STRICTLY bosses have revealed the highly-anticipated list of pros who’ll be taking to the dancefloor this year, after a HUGE show “bloodbath”.
Returning to the smash hit BBC series this year are fan favourites like Dianne Buswell, 36, Amy Dowden, 35, Johannes Radebe, 38, and last year’s winner Carlos Gu, 33, who scooped the coveted Gliterball Trophy with footballer Karen Carney.
The Sun revealed how Australian hunk Julian Caillon, 30, will be coming back for the 24th series, and this has now been confirmed by the Beeb.
A source previously told us: “Julian was not only liked by the bosses but he also went down well with the viewers.
“But most importantly he leads a very clean-living and trouble free life.
“His fiancée is a fitness expert and together they really are that perfect good-looking, clean-living couple, which after everything that’s happened over the last few years is exactly what the bosses want.
“He’s set to sign in the coming weeks.”
The rest of the lucky pro dancers who have also been spared from the Strictly cull are Katya Jones, 36, Jowita Przystal, 31, Kai Widdrington, 30, Aljaž Škorjanec, 36, Lauren Oakley, 35, Nancy Xu, 34, Neil Jones, 43, Nikita Kuzmin, 28, Alexis Warr, 25, and Vito Coppola, 33, who are all returning for the 2026 series.
However, these won’t be the only pros on the programme with the BBC also revealing that a string of new pros will also be joining the programme.
These names are expected to be confirmed closer to the launch of the programme.
Although yet to be confirmed, The Sun revealed that show bosses were hoping to snap up a hunky American dancer for the programme.
D’angelo Castro, 25, is understood to have caught bosses eyes and had a meeting with the execs earlier this year on a trip to the UK.
He has been on the show’s US counterpart Dancing With The Stars, and has a huge social media following.
Those who WON’T be back on the dancefloor this year are Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Karen Hauer, 43, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35.
Sadly these five dancers have been axed, in what is now being hailed as the “Strictly bloodbath”.
All four of the programme’s judges have been confirmed to return as well as fan-favourite theme weeks on the dancing show.
Movies, Icons, Halloween and Musicals week will all be back alongside the Instant Dance challenge following its high-energy debut in 2025.
The Sun was first to reveal that the show was undergoing a mass overhaul, following the departure of hosts Tess Daly, 57, and Claudia Winkleman, 54.
An industry source told: us “Viewers will be shocked that this bloodbath has continued but bosses want a completely new look and fresh start for the show.
“Nobody feels safe at the moment but execs are determined to have a complete refresh after all the drama in recent years and create a new era.”
The Strictly cull has caused heartbreak amongst those who have lost their jobs.
One person who has been very vocal about dancing her last dance on the BBC One show is Michelle.
The Cypriot-born star joined Strictly in 2022, alongside Carlos, Vito, and Lauren — who have all remained safely on the cast.
Michelle revealed to The Sun On Sunday that she “wasn’t even given a reason for being axed”.
Revealing her pain, the emotional star told us: “It felt like my world was falling apart, my dream was shattered. I gave my everything to the show for the four years — it was my whole life.”
Michelle, who was paired with scandal-hit Jamie Borthwick in 2024, told us how she is reeling from the blow of being dropped after having a 30-minute online Zoom meeting with executive producer Sarah James just weeks ago to discuss her contract.
The star said: “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 felt out of the blue. It was very tough. I was heartbroken. I went through so many emotions. I gave my life to Strictly.
“It’s like grief. There are many stages to it, many emotions — sadness, confusion and frustration.
“Everything I have known for the past four years has gone. Your brain goes through change and panic. It was so sudden, I had a feeling of hopelessness.”
Michelle said: “I wasn’t given a reason as to why I was being dropped, which made it harder to digest.
“I was the second youngest female dancer on the cast. I was just told they were going in a different direction and wanted new faces to freshen it up.
“I do wonder if they want to change so much because of the scandals in the past.
“Nothing was clear, so it made it harder for me. I had no idea they wanted to make these changes.
“I burst into tears and the first person I messaged was my mum, and then my boyfriend Simone.”
Meanwhile, judges Shirley Ballas, 65, Craig Revel Horwood, 61, Anton Du Beke, 59, and Motsi Mabuse, 44, are all expected to return.
However, the race is still on to see who will replace Tess and Claudia in the plum job of hosting Strictly.
