Strictly Come Dancing backstage turmoil deepens as pro dancers vent over partner line-up
Pro dancers publicly vent disappointment over lack of celebrity partners for 2025, reviving a backstage rift with Carlos Xu as preparations for the new series intensify.
The 2025 edition of Strictly Come Dancing opened with a fresh round of backstage tensions as two pro dancers spoke publicly about their frustrations over partner assignments. Michelle Tsiakkas posted a video to her 59,000 followers saying she was gutted not to have a celebrity partner this year, a message echoed a day later by Nancy Xu, who admitted she felt left out of the line-up as the new series began.
Tsiakkas, who has danced on the BBC show since 2022, told fans the celebrity pairing is the most beautiful and rewarding part of the show. She recalled that last year she reached week ten with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, and said she hoped fans would get to know her beyond the dance floor in the coming months. She promised to post more updates and stressed she was not disappearing from social media.
Nancy Xu, 34, who has been with Strictly since 2019, followed with a post to her 76,000 followers describing how she feels left out after not being paired with a celeb this year. She thanked fans for messages and said she was okay but that not having a partner has been tough. Nancy also reaffirmed her commitment to the show and that she would share more updates to help fans get to know her.
The tensions are compounded by a long-running rift between Nancy Xu and fellow pro Carlos Xu, childhood friends who previously had a major fall-out backstage last year that created an awkward atmosphere on set. Carlos later attempted to downplay the split, saying they were like brother and sister and that friends argue. The feud has resurfaced as the new series begins, with unfollowing on social media and a quiet silence on comments for Nancy's latest posts.
Insiders say the rift started last year when Carlos failed to land a celeb partner, while Nancy was paired with Shayne Ward. This year Carlos has been paired with former England footballer Karen Carney, while Nancy has expressed disappointment at being overlooked. The Chinese dancer has told followers that she remains focused on her work and that Strictly decision-makers have overlooked her hard work since joining the show in 2019. The two no longer follow each other on Instagram, and Carlos did not comment on Nancy's video this week.
The Strictly saga shows no sign of letting up for the 2025 series, with unhappy pros and two celeb departures before the live shows even begin. In other news, Dani Dyer was heartbroken after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals and having to pull out of the competition. She posted a message explaining that she had a fall on Friday and that doctors advised against continuing with the quickstep on a fracture. Meanwhile, Apprentice star Thomas Skinner has drawn headlines for offscreen actions, though insiders say management faces a tricky balance due to his popularity with fans and the support of his pro partner Amy Dowden. A source told The Mirror that while his posts are not ideal for BBC standards, he is unlikely to be voted out early because of the public's perception and Dowden's backing.
The official lineup for 2025 includes Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal, La Voix, Thomas Skinner, Vicky Pattison, Karen Carney, George Clark, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ellie Goldstein, Chris Robshaw, Stefan Dennis, Ross King, and Lewis Cope. The BBC has not yet commented on the backstage tensions or the social media chatter, but observers say the early editions of Strictly are shaping up to be as eventful as the drama surrounding the cast.