Strictly Come Dancing fans are in shock following reports in the tabloid press that four of the show’s resident professionals will not be returning for this year’s series.

On Saturday, The Sun claimed that Gorka Márquez’s contract would not be renewed ahead of the next season of Strictly, citing a “source” who claimed that “bosses want a fresh start” ahead of the next run.

Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas were also among the pros rumoured not to be back for the upcoming season, with the tabloid alleging a day later that Nadiya Bychkova was the fourth to be dropped.

At the time of writing, none of the four has addressed the speculation, but the news has sparked a big reaction among Strictly devotees…

A BBC representative told The Sun: “Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.”

HuffPost UK has also contacted Strictly Come Dancing for comment.

Gorka – who has made the Strictly final three times during his 10 years as a professional – sat out most of last year’s season due to his commitments as a judge on the Spanish version of the show.

Nadiya and Luba joined in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

During their time on the show, Nadiya has gone without a celebrity partner twice, while Luba has been benched four times.

Michelle, meanwhile, became a Strictly pro in 2022, and has only been paired with a celebrity once during her four-season stint.

Fans already knew that Strictly would be getting something of a refresh in 2026, following the much-publicised departures of its long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Replacement presenters are yet to be confirmed, with a number of famous faces rumoured to be in consideration for the coveted gig.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One for its 24th season in the autumn.