Former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan has ignited a fresh debate after describing the recent departure of five dancers from the BBC series as “getting rid of dead wood”. The comments come amid a significant shake-up for the beloved dance programme, which has also seen long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announce their exit.
The professional dancers confirmed to be leaving the show include Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas. Speaking to the Press Association, Jordan, who was a professional on Strictly from 2006 to 2013, argued that such turnover is inevitable. “When you join Strictly, you’re taking someone’s job,” he said. “It’s just showbiz. It needed a shake-up. Some of the pros have been on there for 14 years… dead wood… get rid of them and bring someone younger in, in my opinion.”
However, fellow former professional Ian Waite offered a starkly different perspective, telling the Press Association: “In my opinion, they got rid of the wrong ones.” While conceding that no dancer can stay on the show forever, Waite added that all the professionals are “amazing in their own right” and that younger talent deserves a chance. Jordan went further, suggesting the judging panel should also face cuts. He criticised the programme’s current tone, saying: “It’s all got nicey-nicey now… it’s all politically correct. You can’t be negative because they’re gonna cry. It’s a dance show. You need that baddie.”
Jordan, who left Strictly after declining a reduced role without a celebrity partner, said he wants to see more of the reality behind the glitter. “I want to see how hard they’re working in the training room. I want to see the tears,” he said. The new presenting line-up will feature Emma Willis, dancer Johannes Radebe and comedian Josh Widdicombe. Jordan praised Willis as “absolutely amazing” but reserved judgment on the other two, admitting he would have preferred “tried and tested” names like Bradley Walsh or Vernon Kay.
Strictly Come Dancing continues to air on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer. The shake-up comes as the show faces ongoing scrutiny over its treatment of contestants and professional dancers, with a BBC spokesperson declining to comment on the specific departures. The new series is expected to return later this year.