BBC Strictly confirms arrival of 5 new pro dancers following mass exits of long-serving cast members

Strictly Come Dancing has unveiled five new professional dancers who will take to the floor when the BBC's flagship entertainment show returns this September.

The fresh recruits, Aleksandra Isaeva from Ukraine, Italian Cristian Priori, South Africa's Lethabo Monametsi, Bournemouth's Maddie Ingoldsby, and Canadian Mark Karmalita, represent five different nations and bring a wealth of international competition experience to the programme.

The quintet will perform alongside 14 returning professionals, including Amy Dowden, Vito Coppola, Nikita Kuzmin, Aljaž Škorjanec, Dianne Buswell, Katya Jones, Carlos Gu, Jowita Przystal, Julian Caillon, Kai Widdrington, Lauren Oakley, Nancy Xu, Neil Jones and Alexis Warr.

Their arrival comes during a period of significant change for the show, which will also feature three new hosts when it lights up Saturday and Sunday evenings this autumn.

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Ms Isaeva, who grew up in Ukraine and is now based in Italy, ranks among the world's top 21 Latin dancers and has claimed multiple Ukrainian National Latin titles.

She has secured top-10 finishes at the European Latin Championships in Blackpool and the Dutch Open's World Latin Dance Competition.

"I've been living and breathing dance for as long as I can remember, so joining the Strictly family is a true honour," she said.

Ms Isaeva arrives on the show with her dance partner Mr Priori, a Rome-born performer who held a place in the world's top 24 Latin dancers for eight consecutive years.

A four-time Italian Latin Champion, he reached the Rising Star Latin final at the Blackpool Dance Festival and was also a Junior Italian 10-Dance Champion.

"Saying yes to Strictly was an easy decision," Mr Priori said.

"Strictly is where passion, hard work and entertainment come together, so being part of it is a real privilege."

Ms Monametsi brings an unbeaten record as South African Latin Champion and was first drawn to dance after watching her country's own version of Strictly Come Dancing.

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Her television credentials already include winning the dance competition Dance Yo Dumo with the group Urban Wave and appearing as a performer on The Masked Singer SA.

Beyond the dance floor, she has shared stages with global stars Diana Ross and Hans Zimmer, and competed for South Africa at the WDC Amateur Open World Championships in Ireland.

She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a law major from the University of the Witwatersrand.

"This moment is bigger than me," Ms Monametsi said.

"Representing South Africa on the Strictly Come Dancing stage is far more than a career milestone; it is an honour beyond words, and I cannot wait to embrace every extraordinary moment of this journey."

Ms Ingoldsby, hailing from Bournemouth, is a UK National Ballroom Champion who has captured the Amateur 10-Dance World Championship title on eight separate occasions.

She previously earned the World Rising Star and Under 21 World Ballroom Champion crowns.

As a child, she performed the role of Annie in the West End and has appeared in the Emma Thompson and Emilia Clarke film Last Christmas.

She also made early appearances on Strictly: It Takes Two and in a group routine during the show's Christmas special.

"Joining Strictly as a professional dancer is truly a dream come true," Ms Ingoldsby said. "Dance has always been where I feel most myself."

Mark Karmalita, a two-time Canadian National Latin Champion and Empire Dance US Latin Rising Star Champion, was once ranked 10th globally at the Under 21 Latin Dance Festival in Blackpool.

"Joining Strictly feels incredibly special, and I'm honoured to be stepping into a ballroom with so much history and heart," he said.

Sarah James, executive producer at BBC Studios, described the new arrivals as "outstanding world-class dancers" and said the team "can't wait to see them shine under the Strictly glitterball this September."

Jo Wallace, senior commissioning editor for BBC Entertainment, echoed that enthusiasm.

"As if the return of Strictly wasn't shaping up to be fab-u-lous enough already, they're five more reasons why the new series is not to be missed," she said.

The programme, produced by BBC Studios Entertainment, is commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, the BBC's head of entertainment.

Sarah James serves as executive producer, with Nicola Fitzgerald and Jack Gledhill as series editors.

Several professional dancers from previous series have departed ahead of this run, with the five newcomers filling those gaps alongside the show's three new presenters.

The departure of the five professional dancers, Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas, has been described by insiders as a "brutal bloodbath".

The BBC's decision stemmed from deep market research and a push to appeal to younger audiences on platforms like TikTok, combined with a desire to distance the show from recent backstage controversies.

The announcement of the five new dancers left a sour taste in the mouths of some fans of the show.

One viewer said on Instagram: "Nah sorry good luck to them but to get rid of fantastic pros like Michelle who'd barely had a chance was just cruel and unfair. Hopefully you treat these better than you did her, although I highly doubt it.."

"Happy for them but I feel it's too much change at once. Going to seem like a totally different show," one critic penned, as another added: "Yeah, I don’t get this, you always miss the mark, BBC."

However, Strictly stars were quick to congratulate the new dancers.

Dianne Buswell commented on Instagram: "Welcome to the team so excited to meet you all very soon."

Amy Dowden penned: "Welcome to the family all! Let’s do this can’t wait to share the floor with you all xxxx."

Vito Coppola said: "Welcome to the family guys."

Shirley Ballas added: "Get ready everyone, we are in for something very special. I’ve witnessed first hand these young dancers within my industry, and they are some of the very very best. We are blessed to have them enter our ballroom. I’m excited."

Meanwhile, Vernon Kay joked: "I thought my back spin and MC Hammer shuffle really broke through. 1984 junior Bolton Conga champion!! Seriously thought I had it in the bag…." (sic)

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