Strictly Come Dancing professional Luba Mushtuk broke down in tears as she bid farewell to the BBC show during the final night of the Strictly The Professionals tour. The Russian-British dancer, who was paired with Nick Knowles in 2024, is one of several stars leaving the programme in what has been described as a 'bloodbath'.
Fighting back tears on stage, Mushtuk hugged fellow departing dancer Gorka Marquez and addressed the audience, saying: '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, new steps to learn and new stories to tell.'
She added: 'I want to thank every single person who works behind the scenes, the people you don't see, because without them none of this would be possible.' Marquez was also seen wiping away tears as Mushtuk concluded: 'No matter where life takes you, the music will go on, and so we must keep dancing.'
Fans took to TikTok to express their sadness, with one commenting: 'Bless Gorka, he was trying so hard to keep a straight face… going to miss him and Luba.' Another said: 'Bookmarking for when I'm emotionally ready.'
A source told the Express that Mushtuk was 'absolutely devastated' and 'in hiding' after being cut from the show. 'This wasn't about wrongdoing or performance. It's a brutal reality of TV – producers refresh the cast and sometimes people who've done nothing wrong get cut,' the source said.
Earlier this year, Mushtuk announced her departure on Instagram, writing: 'With a heart full of gratitude, the time has come for me to step away from Strictly Come Dancing. I am deeply grateful for the past 10 years on this beautiful show.' Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.
