Strictly Come Dancing 2016: Who are the pro dancers?


There’ll be some new faces on Strictly Come Dancing this year – and not just among the ranks of celebrity hopefuls. Four of last year’s professional dancers have already quit the show and more may follow.

Tristan MacManus became the fourth dancer to quit the BBC One show this week, revealing that the show wasn’t for him and that he needed “a break from it all”.

The Irish dancer, who only joined the show in 2014, is the latest big-name departure from the Strictly ballroom and there will be a selection of new professionals when the show returns later this year for series 14.

Here is a round-up of who might be in and who is definitely out of this year’s show:

Who is out?


1. Ola Jordan


One of Strictly’s best loved stars follows her husband James in departing the Strictly family this year.

She won the show with Chris Hollins, but exited in week one in 2015 with runner Iwan Thomas.
Jordan said: “It’s a huge thing as Strictly has been such a massive part of my life for so long and I’ve made so many great friends, but it’s time to go.”


2. Aliona Vilani


The only Strictly pro to ever win the show twice, Aliona quit the series three days after winning the Glitterball Trophy with Jay McGuiness.

Vilani, who also won the show with McFly drummer Harry Judd, hinted that she may retire from dancing altogether.
She reportedly quit the show to start a family with her husband Vincent Kavanagh.


3. Kristina Rihanoff


The Russian dancer burst onto Strictly in 2008 when she partnered John Sergeant through his unforgettable journey on the dancefloor.

Her “surprise” pregnancy with rugby star boyfriend Ben Cohen, who she partnered on the show, is behind her exit.
Speaking about her departure, she said: “It’s a bittersweet situation. I was on Strictly for eight years and I loved the dancing side of it, but I feel relieved because I wasn’t happy towards the end.


4. Tristan MacManus


The Irish dancer has appeared on two series of the BBC One show and reached the Blackpool Tower special with Jamelia in 2015.

He announced that he was quitting the show this week and suggested in an interview with a fan site that he had never truly enjoyed his Strictly experience.

“You can be a dancer or you can be a dancer on a TV show and with that comes a whole other bag. It can be fun, but I’d sooner leave it as it is then spend all my time complaining about it,” he said.

 

Rumoured new stars

1. Elena Samodanova


A judges on Dancing with the Stars in Russia, a pro on the Austalian series and a dancer on the US show, Elena has plenty of experience in TV dance shows.

She also happens to be the wife of last year’s new male pro Gleb Savchenko, so she would probably enjoy working alongside him.

“She would be incredible. I wouldn’t mind her dancing with another man," said Gleb in a recent interview.


2. Isabel Edvardsson


The Swedish dancer has been linked to the BBC show by the tabloids and has appeared as a dancer on eight series of the German version of Dance with the Stars. She also starred as a judge for one series.


3. Peta Murgatroyd


The Aussie-born dancer is one of the current crop of pros on the American Dancing with the Stars and previously won the show with footballer Donald Driver.

Her relationship with fellow dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy could be a stumbling block to her heading to the UK.


4. Iveta Lukosiute


She’s previously taken part in three series of Strictly, partnering Johnny Ball, Mark Benton and rugby player Thom Evans and feels like a natural replacement for Kristina Rihanoff.

However, she failed to truly capture the public’s imagination and the producers have already axed her once, so would they really bring her back again?


5. Joanne Clifton


Dumped off the show last year, after previously partnering Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, Joanne didn’t severe ties with Strictly and was kept on as a choreographer and regular presenter on It Takes Two.

As there are three new female dancers required, it would be surprising if she wasn’t one of the names on the 2016 list.


6. Neil Jones


A World, European and British Latin Dance champion, this chap definitely has the credentials and he’s also got the connections – he is currently a Strictly choreographer.

He’s on the wishlist for many hardcore Strictly fans, but whether he can be tempted to move from behind the camera to on it remains to be seen.

 

Press Release