STRICTLY pro Michelle Tsiakkas quit the BBC show’s nationwide professionals tour after “being promised one thing but given something totally different.”
The ballroom dancer sensationally stepped down from the Strictly: The Professionals shows just days after it was revealed she had been axed from the flagship show in a brutal cast shake-up.
Michelle, who joined the hit series as a professional dancer in 2022, had been expected to perform alongside the rest of the cast on the upcoming live tour later this year.
But after the shock decision to drop her from the programme, Michelle, 30, has now also walked away from the touring production.
A pal told The Sun:“Michelle feels like she’s got a lot to process at the moment.
“She’s made a lot of personal sacrifices for the show and was in it for the long term.
“I think she feels like she was promised one thing but has been given something totally different.”
Michelle joined Strictly four years ago and appeared in the background of group numbers and professional routines before competing on the show with celebrity partner Jamie Borthwick.
Her exit comes amid a dramatic behind-the-scenes shake-up, with several professional dancers axed from the long-running BBC competition.
In total seven dancers have been culled as bosses overhaul the line-up ahead of the next series.
Gorka Márquez, 35, Luba Mushtuk, 36, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Neil Jones, 43, Nancy Xu, 34, and Karen Hauer, 43, have all lost their places on the dancefloor, alongside Michelle.
Earlier this week, Michelle’s exit from the tour was made public.
In a statement, the tour organisers said: “Michelle Tsiakkas has decided not to take part in Strictly The Professionals 2026 Tour.
“We are naturally disappointed but respect her decision and wish her every success for the future.”
The Sun understands other Strictly pro’s, including Julian Caillon, Vito Coppola, Neil Jones, Gorka Marquez, Lauren Oakley, Jowita Przystal, Luba Mushtuk, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington and Nancy Xu, will all appear during the live performances.
Fans quickly shared their disappointment online, with many praising Michelle for her performances and saying she would be “hugely missed” on the show.
