Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Michelle Tsiakkas felt like her “world was falling apart” and her “dream was shattered” when she learned she had been axed from the show.
The 30-year-old dancer, who joined the BBC series in 2022, is among a host of professionals who will not be returning to the Strictly line-up, including longstanding favourites such as Karen Hauer, Luba Mushtukn and Nadiya Bychkova.
In her first interview since leaving the show, Tsiakkas told The Sun that she struggled to process the news as she had not been given a reason as to why she had been dropped.
“It felt like my world was falling apart, my dream was shattered,” she said. “I gave my everything to the show for the four years – it was my whole life.
“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.”
“I wasn’t given a reason as to why I was being dropped, which made it harder to digest,” she added.
“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.”
Tsiakkas went on to speculate whether the producers are looking to switch things up because of the recent slew of negative headlines linked to the show.
“I do wonder if they want to change so much because of the scandals in the past,” she said.
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She also referred to the scandal surrounding her 2024 dance partner Jamie Borthwick, who was later axed from EastEnders after it emerged that he had used a slur against people with disabilities while on the set of Strictly.
Borthwick later apologised “sincerely and wholeheartedly” for his words, and said that he was “deeply embarrassed to have used the term and directed it in the way I did”.
Tsiakkas said that she didn’t “think I was punished for Jamie’s wrongdoing because that wouldn’t be right. The pros have no power over the celebs”.
The Independent has contacted the BBC for further comment.
Tsiakkas has decided not to take part in the upcoming Strictly tour, with a statement on the tour’s official social media pages stating: “We are naturally disappointed but respect her decision and wish her every success for the future.”
