Strictly Come Dancing is reportedly preparing for a cull of its professional dancers.
The show is currently underway for the 2024 season as it moves past the controversial probe that engulfed the show this year. However, with a wave of new talent taking to the dancefloor during the course of the series, BBC bosses are now said to be eyeing up the possibility of a purge.
Speaking to The Sun, sources close to the show have claimed that bosses want to bring in fresh meat and start the show with a clean slate. As a result, a number of firm fan favourites are said to be facing the chop.
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According to the insider, up to five professional dancers are set to leave the show. However, specific names on who could be given the boot have yet to be revealed.
The insider explained: "The review of the line-up has always been about making a fresh start, and that was always going to be affected by which dancers performed well this series. The feeling is that the Strictly troupe is made up of some fading stars, while others are rising stars.
"And in many cases there are certain characters whose shoes can easily be filled with younger, up-and-coming counterparts," the source added. "It’s harsh but it’s just part of the traditional turnover of showbusiness."
Many fan favourites have already been voted off this year's edition of the show, including Neil Jones, Gorka Marquez and Nadiya Bychkova, together with their respective celebrity dance partners.
So far, Katya Jones is one of the last long-time professionals still in the competition, but caused an uproar in the wake of an incident with celeb partner Wynne Evans. The pair dominated headlines after "gropegate" - when Wynne appeared to put his arm around Katya, and she appeared less than comfortable.
Other fan favourites, such as Jowita Przystal, are continuing to impress both the judges and the audience alike, as she waltzes together with TOWIE star Pete Wicks. As well as this, reigning champion Vito Coppola has been dazzling once again together with his partner Sarah Hadland.
The potential switch-up comes in the wake of the internal probe into Strictly that dominated headlines throughout this year. The investigation was launched after Giovanni Pernice claimed partner Giovanni Pernice had bullied and abused her behind the scenes of training.
Following months of investigation, it was revealed that Giovanni had never been physically abusive towards Amanda, but the BBC did concede that he had made comments that were not acceptable. In total, the BBC upheld six of the 17 complaints filed by Amanda, with Giovanni welcoming the result and saying the decision "cleared his name".
Strictly airs every weekend on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer.
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