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Why these pro dancers quit Strictly Come Dancing

Here's who sashayed away.

By Iona Rowan

25 Oct 2022

Strictly Come Dancing returned to our screens in September 2022 with fifteen new celebrities primped and primed to compete for the coveted glitterball trophy before this year's judging panel: Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mubuse and Anton Du Beke.

It also saw the debut of four new professional dancers following the departures of fan favourites like Oti Mabuse and Aljaž Škorjanec.

It's not the first time some of our favourite pros have hung up their dancing shoes since the BBC show first graced our screens way back in 2004, and it certainly won't be the last.

Let's take a trip down memory lane, as we compile a list of some of the professional dancers who have left the show over the years.

Oti Mabuse

ITV

Oti first appeared on the series in 2015 and went on to win the Glitterball trophy twice: once with Emmerdale's Kelvin Fletcher, and again the following year with comedian Bill Bailey. This made her the first pro dancer to win two years in a row.

Oti announced that she was leaving the show back in February 2022, saying: "Never easy to say goodbye. I have been part of the most amazing TV show, Strictly Come Dancing for the past seven years and it has been an incredible time.

"Lifting the glitterball twice and having the best journey with all my celebrities, but also meeting and working with the best team, crew, producers, celebs and incredible professional dancers! You are my family and I adore you all forever."

Although Oti has never explicitly listed it as the reason for her exit, she's gone on to pursue a TV career beyond the Strictly ballroom. She joined The Masked Dancer and Dancing On Ice judging panel's on ITV and presented a new primetime dating show called Romeo and Duet.

Aljaž Škorjanec

Getty Images

Aljaz initially joined as a professional dancer in 2013, winning the trophy his debut year with model Abbey Clancey.

Since then, he's been a cherished member of the Strictly family, so fans were shocked when he announced that he wouldn't be returning to the dance floor earlier this year.

While he didn't give too much away about his decision, the native Slovenian did tease that he's got some more projects in the in the works.

Sharing a statement on his Instagram, the 32-year-old uploaded a collage of photos from his time on the show and wrote:"A little while ago I made the tough decision that Strictly 2021 would be my last.

"The show has given me an opportunity and freedom to create and express myself in front of millions of people every weekend for the last 9 years.

"The love and support I got from the team of producers was second to none. Louise Rainbow, Sarah James, Kim Winston, Jack Gledhill are just a few of the unsung heroes behind the success of the show - I am forever grateful to them!"

He continued: "I have lots of exciting stuff planned that I will fill you in on soon. I can't wait to see what the future holds!"

Janette Manara

janette manrara, co host of strictly come dancing spin off it takes two

Ray BurmistonBBC

Janette made the decision to switch over from being a pro on Strictly to become the new co-host of its sister show It Takes Two, a career path she's been interested in for a "really long time."

"A dancer's career is so short. You can only dance at a top level for a certain amount of time. So ever since I got onto Strictly Come Dancing, I've always been thinking about what's next," she told HELLO!

"I've always loved entertaining and making people smile, and I do like interviewing people and sharing their stories. So the change to go into presenting, I think, was a very slow, long process.

"It just seems like it happened overnight but for me, it's been something I've been thinking about for a really, really long time."

Anton Du Beke

strictly come dancing tess daly and claudia winkleman

BBC

Anton started as a professional dancer on Strictly way back when the very first season began in 2004, and he went on to compete in every single season thereafter until 2021.

He didn't stray too far from the ballroom, though, instead filling in on the judging panel when Bruno Tonioli was unable to make weekly trips to the UK due to travel restrictions in the pandemic.

When Bruno eventually quit the show after 18 years back in May, Anton joined the panel permanently as his replacement.

AJ Pritchard

Mike MarslandGetty Images

In 2021, AJ's representatives revealed that he'd be hanging up his dancing shoes to focus more on opportunities with his brother, Love Island's Curtis Pritchard.

"After four years on Strictly Come Dancing, AJ has decided the time is right to leave the show and follow his dreams to explore opportunities in the presenting world alongside his brother Curtis," it read.

"AJ would like to thank the team at Strictly and everyone at the BBC for giving him such a brilliant opportunity.

"AJ would also like to send his love and gratitude to all who have followed and supported his career. He is excited for you all to join him on the next chapter of his journey."

The brother duo had an acting stint in Hollyoaks together, and appeared on the latest season of SAS: Who Dares Wins.

Brendan Cole

Matt FrostITV

Brendan disclosed in 2018 that the BBC had not made an offer to extend his contract with Strictly, and they had informed him of this over the phone.

"It's quite, actually, hard to talk about," he said at the time. "The BBC haven't renewed my contract. We get contracted year upon year. They've made an editorial decision to not 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. I have had 15 incredible series on the show. I'm very proud of the whole show. It's a great team."

It has been speculated that Brendan wasn't asked to come back because he frequently clashed with the judges and later demanded a revision of the Strictly scoring system, contending that contestants with prior dance training should be subjected to harsher evaluation.

"It wouldn't hurt if there was a handicap system, like in golf," he said. "It would be good for people who don't come from a stage school or performance background like Debbie (McGee), who has a ballet dance history."

Kevin Clifton

Getty Images

Kevin, who won the show with his now-girlfriend Stacey Dooley in 2018, didn't return in 2020 because he wanted to end his Strictly career on a "high".

The news was revealed on Twitter, with Strictly saying: "Sadly Kevin Clifton is leaving #Strictly after seven incredible years on the show. Join us in wishing him all the best, @keviclifton. You'll be sorely missed!

"Kevin has been such a brilliant part of Strictly for the past seven years. From reaching the final an impressive five times, to lifting the Glitterball with Stacey Dooley in 2018, he has provided the show with some fantastic moments, through his exceptional talent as a dancer and choreographer."

In his own statement, Kevin wrote: "After finishing last series with the Children in Need trophy and the Christmas special, I want to leave on a high and have therefore decided the time has come to move on and focus on other areas of my life and career.

"I want to thank all of the pros for inspiring me every day as well as all of my celebrity partners. The whole team behind the scenes have always made the Strictly family what it is and the loveliest show to work for. Thank you to anyone who has ever voted for me and my partners. It means the world."

Joanne Clifton

Ben Pruchnie/WireImageGetty Images

Joanne, who won the Glitterball Trophy in 2016 with celebrity partner Ore Oduba, left the show in 2019 to pursue a career in musical theatre. She promptly showed off her acting and singing chops when she was cast as Janet in the UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show.

Speaking to Metro, Joanne said: "I think I still get Strictly fans there, I get shoutouts like 'Seven!' I only had one review for Rocky Horror that was like 'Oh, we don’t get to see Joanne’s dancing and we all expected that'.

"But I am kind of moving away from the dancing now, I want to be known for acting and singing. And Janet doesn’t do that much dancing, you wouldn’t have ballroom and Latin in Rocky Horror. I’m quite happy not dancing."

Pasha Kovalev

Getty Images

Pasha holds the record for the most 10s ever awarded and the record for the most perfect scores, but he left the show in 2019 to find a "new challenge."

He wrote in a statement: "After scoring 93 perfect tens, reaching four finals and lifting 1 glitter ball, it's time for me to find a new challenge so I've decided to make last year – my final season on Strictly.

"I've had 8 fantastic years, full of wonderful memories, thanks to incredible partners, professionals and myriad of behind the scenes teams who all work to make Strictly the amazing production that it is.

"My biggest thanks go to all the members of the public who've supported me so much over these years – I look forward to seeing you all on the Strictly Pro-Tour this spring, and for many future adventures to come."

Natalie Lowe

london celebrity sightings june 23, 2017

HGLGetty Images

Natalie joined Strictly in 2009 and left after eight years in 2017.

"This was a very difficult decision for me not to accept the invitation to appear on this season of Strictly Come Dancing," she told PA. "It is with a very heavy heart that I have arrived at this decision.

"I'll be forever grateful for the amazing time, opportunities and memories that Strictly has created for me. My time on the programme has been everything that I dreamed it would be, and more."

The news came after she placed seventh in 2017 with her celeb partner Greg Rutherford, amid the pair's feud with judge Craig Revel Horwood.

It has been rumoured that Natalie's exit was because of Craig Revel Horwood's critique of the couple's Rumba, which caused Natalie to break down in tears.

James Jordan

ITV

James left Strictly in 2014, as it was reported that the BBC wanted to reduce his role on the show and not pair him with a celebrity partner.

A spokesperson said at the time: "James Jordan was offered a role still on Strictly Come Dancing. It wasn’t to be partnered with a celebrity, but it was to be involved in specials such as Children in Need, that sort of thing. But he declined that. He was offered a reduced role on the show."

James responded to the announcement on Twitter and offered his own perspective on the drama.

"Yes, it's true I WILL NOT be retuning to 'BURN THE FLOOR'.... Sorry, I mean 'Strictly Come Dancing," he wrote, before adding: "do not believe everything the BBC have written in their statement."

James later said that Craig Revel Horwood should be fired as a judge, saying: "The show doesn't need Craig. He should go. If Craig was gone they wouldn't notice any difference at all. The viewers wouldn't miss him either. No-one would miss him."

Ola Jordan

Getty Images

Ola joined the Strictly in 2006 with her husband James Jordan and made the decision to leave two years after his exit, reportedly due to a fallout with production over his controversial departure.

She later said she wouldn't return to the show because she feels that she is "too old."

"I did ten years and it was full-on," she explained. "It’s six months out of your life to do Strictly without any weekends or days off. Being involved with the show was amazing but sometimes you need to know when to hang up your dance shoes. I’m too old now."

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One, while spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows also stream on BBC iPlayer.

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