Last weekend, saw BBC viewers tune in to witness this year's Strictly Come Dancing stars pair up with their professional dance partners for the upcoming series. Audiences were chuffed to welcome back fan-favourite pros including Johannes Radebe, Dianne Buswell, Karen Hauer and Nikita Kuzmin. This season also sees Neil Jones and Nadiya Bychkova join the competition after being partnered with celebrities.
Despite featuring in group performances last year, both dancers missed out on the competitive aspect of the show. Unfortunately, Kai Widdrington, who teamed up with Angela Rippon in 2023, will experience a similar fate this year. With anticipation building for the first live show on Saturday, Erin Boag shed light on the selection process.
Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie , she said: "I don't think you can take this personally as a professional, because all of the professionals are fabulous. "I can't name any professional that's ever been on that show that shouldn't have been there, because they're all fabulous, and they all work hard, but sometimes it's nice to showcase somebody else." Erin then pointed out that despite Neils consistent appearances, he has competed merely twice since his debut in 2026.
She hinted at another pro who is eagerly anticipated to make a splash on the dance floor, reports the Express . She commented on the role of unpaired professional dancers on the show, saying: "Michelle, we haven't seen her yet. She's been there for a couple of years.
In the back.