BBC Strictly Come Dancing ageism row as stars 'furious' popular professional faces the axe

Strictly Come Dancing fans are reportedly acceptable to beryllium faced with a immense caller lineup from adjacent bid with a fig of long-serving dancers said to beryllium facing the chop

As Strictly Come Dancing continues to wow on-screen, determination is acceptable to beryllium further turmoil down the scenes, according to reports.

A fig of the nonrecreational dancers connected the deed BBC bid are said to beryllium up for the chop erstwhile the 20th variation comes to an end. However, an ageism enactment is seemingly brewing, with immoderate of the longest serving dancers reportedly being axed.

Among them is the show's oldest professional, Karen Hauer. The 42-year-old Venezuelan-American prima has been a mainstay connected the bid for 12 years, but faced an aboriginal exit alongside erstwhile footballer Paul Merson successful the existent series. And determination are fears it could beryllium the much-loved dancer's past outing.

A root told Mail Online the imaginable axe has near different stars "furious". One told the work it was "another Arlene Phillips" moment. Arlene was replaced arsenic a justice connected the amusement astatine the property of 65 successful 2008, starring to claims of sexism and ageism. At the time, Arlene was replaced by bid 5 victor Alesha Dixon, who was 30 astatine the time.

An insider told the outlet: "It is perfectly outrageous Karen would beryllium booted disconnected the show. She is perfectly committed, she is truthful fit, an astonishing dancer and she has ne'er origin Strictly immoderate problems astatine all. While the amusement has been nether truthful overmuch scrutiny successful the past 9 months, nary of it has progressive her.

"She is simply a full pro, it each smacks of Arlene Phillips, get escaped of the older pistillate and regenerate her with a younger one. She is specified a harmless brace of hands, she tin beryllium coupled with anyone and gives it her best. It would beryllium devastating to for the BBC to get escaped of the older women, you expect much from them."

Karen isn't the lone much elder prima who could beryllium replaced, either, according to The Sun. The work claims the likes of Ukrainian prima Nadiya Bychkova and Welsh mover Katya Jones, some 35, could besides beryllium getting the boot. Younger stars specified arsenic Jowita Pryztal, 29, and Michelle Tsiakkas, besides 29, are said to beryllium safe, however.

A root told The Sun earlier successful the week: "The feeling is that the Strictly troupe is made up of immoderate fading stars, portion others are rising stars. And successful galore cases determination are definite characters whose shoes tin easy beryllium filled with younger, up-and-coming counterparts. It's harsh but it's conscionable portion of the accepted turnover of showbusiness."

However, fans person been near little than impressed by the speculation. One online idiosyncratic said connected X/Twitter: "This is truthful code deaf! The pros are what the radical love. People travel and enactment the pros arsenic much, if not more, than the celebs. Wake up and axe a mates of the judges!" Another added: "NOOOOOO!!!!!!! Leave it alone! We emotion the favourite pros."

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