STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Karen Hauer appeared in high spirits as she returned to the small screen tonight.
It comes after it was revealed the professional dancer, 43, has been axed from the BBC competition in what is being dubbed a ‘bloodbath’.
Karen appeared on The Apprentice’s spin-off visual podcast Unfinished Business tonight following the main show – which saw Lord Sugar make his tenth firing.
The star was all smiles as she chatted with host Angela Scanlon on the BBC2 episode, appearing in high spirits.
Karen made no reference of Strictly or her shock axing, with the show thought to have been pre-recorded.
However, she and Angela were discussing this week’s episode – with Karen revealing how she would have handled the candidate’s task and giving her opinion on who will improve next week.
It was revealed on Tuesday that Karen, who is Strictly’s longest serving female pro, had become the latest dancer to be let go ahead of the 2026 series.
MailOnline claimed that Karen , who reached the Strictly final in 2014 but has never won the coveted Glitterball Trophy, is the latest in a string of stars to be given the chop.
A source told the outlet: “Karen is the latest professional dancer to be told her contract will not be renewed this year.
“It’s very much a case of out with the old and in with the new.
“As the longest-serving female dancer, Karen found out last week that her time on Strictly is over.”
The publication’s source added: “Karen was obviously very upset after being told the news, but she is trying to remain positive about the future.
“She works as a choreographer and knows she can focus more on that, as well as her work in the fitness industry.”
While the star is yet to speak out herself one of Karen’s former celebrity partners seemingly confirmed that she has been dropped.
Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer was paired with Karen for the 2017 series, but they were the fifth couple to be voted off the show.
In a post on X, Simon wrote: “absolutely gutted that the very best teacher and dancer @karenhauer has been axed from @bbcstrictly – thanks for everything Karen #friendsforlife.”
Gorka Marquez, 35, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, are also said to be heading out of the door.
