Strictly star Michelle Tsiakkas has quit the live tour amid claims she has been axed from the embattled BBC programme.
The live tour was set to kick off in April, however Michelle has withdrawn from the show, in an announcement made on the tour’s official Instagram page.
The statement read: ‘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…
‘We look forward to starting the tour rehearsals early next month with Julian, Vito, Neil, Gorka, Lauren, Jowita, Luba, Alexis, Kai and Nancy.’
Following the departure of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the BBC show has been hit by a huge shake-up, with Michelle joining Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Márquez in being dropped from the lineup.
Strictly star Michelle Tsiakkas has quit the live tour amid claims she has been axed from the embattled BBC programme (Michelle pictured in 2023)
The statement read: ‘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’
Earlier this week, The Daily Mail exclusively reported Karen, who joined Strictly in 2012 and is one of the longest-serving pros, was informed of the decision to not renew her contract days ago.
While some names have been dropped from the show, it was also revealed that Katya Jones will be staying in the lineup, and has been handed a new contract by bosses.
It comes after Michelle, Karen, 43, Nadiya, 36, Luba, 36, and Gorka, 35, were also axed from the series, with sources claiming all of the Strictly pros are already aware of their fate.
One insider told the Daily Mail: ‘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.’
A second source added: ‘It’s an awful fate for the professional dancers who have dedicated their careers to the show.
The live tour was set to kick off in April, however Michelle has withdrawn from the show, in an announcement made on the tour’s official Instagram page
‘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.
Sources suggest bosses are aiming for an entirely fresh start following years of criticism and controversy surrounding the professional dancers.
Elsewhere, Neil Jones, 43, who has rarely had a celebrity dance partner on the show, will also go without one this year, as will Nancy Xu, 34.
It’s believed they may still appear in the big group dance numbers.
