Strictly Come Dancing star Michelle Tsiakkas reunited with her former co-star Luba Mushtuk after both confirmed their exits from the dancefloor. The BBC series has bid farewell to five professional dancers ahead of the next instalment airing later this year.
Five Dancers Depart
Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas and Gorka Marquez will not return for the 2026 series. Additionally, the show will see a change in hosts, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe announced as the new presenting trio, replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Michelle's Emotional Exit
Michelle, who joined Strictly in 2022, said her departure was unexpected: 'I didn't see it coming. I thought I had more time. When she told me I wasn't coming back, there was a moment of shock. I felt my story was unfinished. It was very tough.' She added, 'I was heartbroken. I gave my life to Strictly! It's like grief.'
Luba Mushtuk reflected on her own exit: 'What I've been saying is that the dance we love has to sometimes come to an end, but that doesn't mean the music stops. It means there are new dances waiting to be discovered.'
Reunion on TikTok
The pair shared a fun Instagram video following a TikTok trend, with Michelle joking about convincing Luba to join the platform. Luba quipped, 'I'd rather colour my hair blonde again for fun than download TikTok.' Fans loved the reunion, with comments like 'Love you guys!!' and 'This had me laughing, loved it!'
