Strictly Come Dancing bosses are said to be brutal when it comes to axing professional dancers, with some stars reportedly having no warning before being ditched

Strictly dancers have been left stunned by how ruthless producers of the hit show are after yet more facing the axe. The BBC dance contest bosses are ready for another big shake-up after several seasons of controversy.

After Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly decided to step back from presenting duties, bosses have now wielded the axe ahead of the next series. Nadiya Bychkova became the fourth professional dancer to be told she won't be returning.

And it's said some of the ditched dancers have found themselves facing bankruptcy and struggling to push on with their career. While some have managed to forge a new path, including Anton Du Beke who took his place on the judging panel, others are said to be struggling after a brutal 15 minute phone call decided their fate.

According to The Sun, a source said: "It’s brutal. Once they’re axed, there is very little in the way of duty of care and they are left to lick their wounds alone.

“Some of the dancers have been told their fate in a 15 minute phone call, even when they’d been on the show for years. Many of them feel like the BBC has pulled the rug from under them, with no warning.”

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The comments come years after Brendan Cole opened up on his own exit, claiming he received a short phone call telling him his time was up after nearly 15 years on the show. Speaking of his exit in 2018, Brendan said: "It’s quite hard to talk about.

“The BBC haven’t renewed my contract. We get contracted year upon year and they’ve made an editorial decision not to have me back on the show. I’m a little bit in shock, I’m quite emotional, a bit raw about it. It’s done via a process of a phone call and stuff."

It's claimed he professionals receive between £50,000 and £65,000 a series and are able to increase their take home pay. But it's claimed that stars like Brendan and Kristina Rihanoff, have faced money problems since.

It was reported in November 2021 that his business collapse led to debts, including a £28,000 tax bill and a £50,000 coronavirus bounce back loan.

And former dancer Robin Windsor also left a tragic note as he died by suicide. He was dropped before the 2015 series. In his note he said: "This all really started when I lost my job on Strictly and have been fighting it ever since.

“The way they treated me destroyed me…it all started me on the road I’m still on. All I wanted from life was to be happy.”

At the time of his death, the BBC said: "Our sympathies are with Robin’s family, friends, and all who knew him. The whole of the Strictly Come Dancing family remain deeply saddened by his passing.

Robin was a much loved member of the team – both on and off air – during his time on the show. As the inquest has heard and the jury concluded, several complex factors contributed to how Robin felt at the time of his tragic death and our thoughts remain with all who knew and loved Robin"

In 2024, the show announced additional steps to strengthen welfare and support following a number of incidents and complaints.

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