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Strictly Hosts Deny Axing Rumors Amid Show Shake-Up
23 Mar
Summary
- BBC denies axing Janette Manrara and Fleur East from It Takes Two.
- Strictly Come Dancing faces potential host and professional line-up changes.
- Reports claim a refresh is planned for the show's September return.

The BBC has firmly denied reports suggesting that Janette Manrara and Fleur East have been removed from their roles on the Strictly Come Dancing companion show, It Takes Two. These denials come amidst widespread speculation about significant changes to the popular dancing competition ahead of its return in September.
Reports had claimed that bosses were looking for a fresh start, allegedly leading to the departure of Manrara and East from It Takes Two. Further rumors indicated that several professional dancers, including Michelle Tsiakkas, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, and Karen Hauer, might also be leaving the main show, with Hauer herself having announced her departure. It's also been suggested that some professionals may continue without celebrity partners.
Details regarding the replacement hosts for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who departed in December 2025, remain unconfirmed. Potential contenders for the main hosting roles are rumored to include Zoe Ball and Rylan. The BBC has stated that all plans for the 2026 Strictly Come Dancing season will be communicated in due course, maintaining that claims of specific individuals being axed are factually incorrect.




