Luba Mushtuk is said to be feeling ‘absolutely devastated’ after she was suddenly cut from the Strictly Come Dancing lineup.
Following the departure of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the BBC show has been hit by a huge shake-up, with Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba and Gorka Márquez all dropped.
After joining the show as a professional dancer in 2018, sources say Luba ‘thought she had more time’ before the mass bloodbath.
‘Luba is absolutely devastated. Strictly has been her life for years and she genuinely believed she would be back’, a source told the Express.
‘She’s basically in hiding right now. She’s not answering calls, not replying to messages – she just wants to process it privately.
‘This wasn’t about wrongdoing or performance. It’s a brutal reality of TV – producers refresh the cast and sometimes people who’ve done nothing wrong get cut. She thought she had more time. There was no long goodbye, no gradual transition just a phone call telling her she wouldn’t be needed.’
Luba Mushtuk, 36, is said to be feeling ‘absolutely devastated’ after she was suddenly cut from the Strictly Come Dancing lineup
After joining the show as a professional dancer in 2018, sources say Luba ‘thought she had more time’ before the mass bloodbath (pictured with Gorka)
Daily Mail has contacted Luba’s representatives for comment.
Earlier this week, The Daily Mail exclusively reported Karen, who joined Strictly in 2012 and is one of the longest-serving pros, was informed of the decision to not renew her contract days ago.
While some names have been dropped from the show, it was also revealed that Katya Jones will be staying in the lineup, and has been handed a new contract by bosses.
Karen, 43, Nadiya, 36, Michelle, 30, Luba and Gorka, 35, have been axed from the series, with sources claiming all of the Strictly pros are already aware of their fate.
One insider told the Daily Mail: ‘Karen is the latest professional dancer to be told her contract will not be renewed this year.
‘It’s very much a case of out with the old and in with the new. As the longest-serving female dancer, Karen found out last week that her time on Strictly is over.’
A second source added: ‘It’s an awful fate for the professional dancers who have dedicated their careers to the show.
‘Karen was obviously very upset after being told the news, but she is trying to remain positive about the future. She works as a choreographer and knows she can focus more on that, as well as her work in the fitness industry.
On Tuesday, Daily Mail revealed that Karen Hauer was one of five professional dancers who so far have been told by bosses their contracts won’t be renewed
‘It’s also looking increasingly likely that Aljaž Škorjanec will not return, while Carlos Gu and Johannes Radebe have been given the green light to stay.’
Karen’s last celebrity partner on the series was Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, while the year before she danced with former footballer Paul Merson and, in 2023, comedian Eddie Kadi.
She showcased her versatility as a choreographer by performing with comic Jayde Adams in 2022, following on from Katya Jones, who was the first Strictly female pro to perform in a same-sex pairing.
Other celebrity partners Karen has performed with included TOWIE’s Mark Wright, one of the first reality stars signed to the show.
Despite her long-standing commitment, Karen has never won the Strictly glitterball trophy, though she did reach the final with Mark in 2014, and Jamie Laing in 2020.
Karen was previously married to former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton, but their marriage ended after three years. Despite the split, the pair continued to work together on the show.
The Daily Mail has contacted Karen’s spokesperson for comment.
Sources suggest bosses are aiming for an entirely fresh start following years of criticism and controversy surrounding the professional dancers.
Elsewhere, Neil Jones, 43, who has rarely had a celebrity dance partner on the show, will also go without one this year, as will Nancy Xu, 34.
It’s believed they may still appear in the big group dance numbers.
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