Strictly Come Dancing star Michelle Tsiakkas says her ‘dream was shattered’ when she was axed from show

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Michelle Tsiakkas felt for illustration her “world was falling apart” and her “dream was shattered” erstwhile she learned she had been axed from nan show.

The 30-year-old dancer, who joined nan BBC bid successful 2022, is among a big of professionals who will not beryllium returning to nan Strictly line-up, including longstanding favourites specified arsenic Karen Hauer, Luba Mushtukn and Nadiya Bychkova.

In her first question and reply since leaving nan show, Tsiakkas told The Sun that she struggled to process nan news arsenic she had not been fixed a logic arsenic to why she had been dropped.

“It felt for illustration my world was falling apart, my dream was shattered,” she said. “I gave my everything to nan show for nan 4 years – it was my full life.

“It felt retired of nan blue. It was very tough. I was heartbroken. I went done truthful galore emotions. I gave my life to Strictly.”

“I wasn’t fixed a logic arsenic to why I was being dropped, which made it harder to digest,” she added.

“I was nan 2nd youngest female dancer connected nan cast. I was conscionable told they were going successful a different guidance and wanted caller faces to freshen it up.”

Tsiakkas went connected to estimate whether nan producers are looking to move things up because of nan caller slew of antagonistic headlines linked to nan show.

“I do wonderment if they want to alteration truthful overmuch because of nan scandals successful nan past,” she said.

She besides referred to nan ungraded surrounding her 2024 creation partner Jamie Borthwick, who was later axed from EastEnders after it emerged that he had utilized a slur against group pinch disabilities while connected nan group of Strictly.

Borthwick later apologised “sincerely and wholeheartedly” for his words, and said that he was “deeply embarrassed to person utilized nan word and directed it successful nan measurement I did”.

Tsiakkas said that she didn’t “think I was punished for Jamie’s wrongdoing because that wouldn’t beryllium right. The pros person nary powerfulness complete nan celebs”.

The Independent has contacted nan BBC for further comment.

Tsiakkas has decided not to return part successful nan upcoming Strictly tour, pinch a connection connected nan tour’s charismatic societal media pages stating: “We are people disappointed but respect her determination and wish her each occurrence for nan future.”