Overview
- Luba Mushtuk, who joined the BBC series as a pro in 2018, confirmed Friday that she is leaving and the show issued a public thank-you.
- She said she will dance on the Professionals tour one last time, closing a decade-long run that included partnerships with Adam Thomas, Nick Knowles and James Cracknell.
- Mushtuk becomes the third confirmed exit after longtime pros Karen Hauer and Nadiya Bychkova, underscoring a retooled 2026 series now in the works.
- Reports suggest further changes for the pro troupe, with Michelle Tsiakkas saying in a reported interview that she learned on a Zoom call she would not return and describing the loss as heartbreaking.
- Media outlets have alleged bosses are factoring dancers’ social media reach to court younger viewers, a claim the BBC has not confirmed, while fans and fellow pros praised Mushtuk and voiced concern about the show’s direction as new hosts remain unannounced.