Backstage turmoil hits Strictly Come Dancing as feuds flare before 2025 series

Strictly Come Dancing is facing renewed turmoil as backstage tensions among the show's professional lineup spill into public view ahead of the 2025 series. Two performing pros, Michelle Tsiakkas and Nancy Xu, have publicly aired frustrations about not having celebrity partners for the new season, signaling a growing rift behind the scenes.

On Wednesday night, Michelle Tsiakkas, a pro since 2022, posted an Instagram video in which she said she was gutted she wouldn't have a celebrity partner for the 2025 series. Tsiakkas, who reached week 10 last year with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, told her 59k followers that last year's experience showed her how much she enjoys the process and described partnering a celebrity as the most beautiful and rewarding part of the show. She also assured fans she would keep posting to help them get to know her better and that she was not completely disappearing.

The video came just 24 hours after Nancy Xu shared her own message, admitting she felt left out of the show. Nancy, 34, addressed her 76,000 followers and said the show gave her a big platform to show her skills and talents, but she felt overlooked this year. The two dancers are childhood friends from China; Nancy and Carlos Xu are described as having grown up together and sharing a close, brother-sister bond that has colored backstage dynamics. One notable absentee in Nancy's comments section was Carlos Xu.

The two dancers have long been described as close friends, and their dynamic has been part of the show’s backstage conversations. Last year, a rift between Nancy Xu and Carlos Xu contributed to an awkward atmosphere on set. Carlos Xu later spoke publicly to say they were fine, noting that friends argue but remain close. Despite that reassurance, the new series appears to have rekindled tension, with Nancy Xu and Carlos Xu no longer following each other on social media and Carlos not commenting on Nancy's latest post.

Insiders have suggested the previous fallout stemmed from Carlos Xu not securing a celebrity partner while Nancy Xu was paired with Shayne Ward. This year, Carlos Xu is paired with former England footballer Karen Carney, while Nancy Xu has again voiced disappointment at being overlooked. The evolving backstage mood underscores broader anxiety about casting and the overall balance of the 2025 lineup.

The wider production picture includes Thomas Skinner, an Apprentice star whose social media activity has drawn scrutiny. BBC bosses are said to be trying to rein in the controversy surrounding his participation, though insiders say he is unlikely to exit early due to his pro partner Amy Dowden's popularity with viewers. The week has also featured upheaval offstage, with Dani Dyer withdrawing after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals and Kristian Nairn leaving the show for medical reasons earlier in the month.

The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup features a mix of athletes, actors, reality stars and performers, including Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal, La Voix, Thomas Skinner, Vicky Pattison, Karen Carney, George Clarke, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ellie Goldstein, Chris Robshaw, Stefan Dennis, Ross King and Lewis Cope. As the season approaches, BBC executives navigate ongoing backstage tensions while producers and talent teams work to present a cohesive, entertaining competition for the public.