Strictly Come Dancing made its extremely anticipated return to screens on Saturday with its pre-recorded launch present, which revealed which skilled companions its 15 celeb contestants had been paired with. Alongside a glittering group efficiency, the episode additionally launched BBC viewers to 2 new professionals. American dancer Alexis Warr and Australian dancer Julian Caillon had been warmly welcomed by their fellow dancers and can be dancing with YouTuber George Clarke and actress Balvinder Sopal, respectively. Among the many execs that had been making their dancefloor return this 12 months had been additionally quite a lot of those that had been snubbed by the present.
This consists of Neil Jones, Nancy Xu and Michelle Tsiakkas, who’ve all damaged their silence about not showing on the present this 12 months. Nancy, 34, is alleged to be “incensed” with bosses after they determined she wouldn’t obtain a star pairing. The dancer, who joined the present in 2019, is reportedly fearful that, regardless of her beforehand profitable partnerships, there could also be “deeper points” that she isn’t conscious of behind the choice.
In response to a supply through the MailOnline, Nancy “is totally incensed by all of it and has mentioned she will’t work out what she’s accomplished to make producers snub her – particularly as a result of she did so nicely with Shayne Ward final 12 months.
“Nancy completely loves Strictly and provides it her all. So to be ignored within the chilly once more for this collection has been actually jarring for her,” the insider mentioned.
Followers will recall that the Chinese language native gained the 2023 Christmas particular with EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, however throughout final 12 months’s most important present, he was paired with professional Michelle.
Then, final 12 months, Nancy competed with cleaning soap star Shayne Ward, 40, earlier than the pair had been eradicated in week eight.
Elsewhere, Neil took to Instagram to joke about being snubbed with a video that noticed him throw a pen and claimed he would get to star on the present if it landed right into a cup.
Nonetheless, in a hilarious twist, the 43-year-old, who limbered as much as take his goal on the cup, as a substitute threw the pen off to the aspect of the studio.
Taking to the caption, Neil penned: “It’s all jokes and giggle and irrespective of with or with no companion I simply love being a part of @bbcstrictly so thanks for all of your love.”
In the meantime, Michelle admitted that she is “gutted” about being missed this 12 months.
She wrote: “I simply wished to make this submit to acknowledge and say thanks from the underside of my coronary heart for all the beautiful messages I’ve obtained since you’ve got all seen that I haven’t got a companion on Strictly this 12 months. To these of you asking how I’m. I might be mendacity if I mentioned I wasn’t gutted, however I feel that is a traditional feeling to have.”
Regardless of this, Michelle nonetheless intends to share her ideas on Strictly, and different areas of her life, together with her social media followers. The dancer defined: “Final 12 months was my first 12 months with a companion and it made me realise simply how a lot I benefit from the course of.
“I feel it is probably the most stunning and rewarding a part of the present. And I additionally really feel like final 12 months was the primary time you all began to get to know me higher as nicely.
“There’s nonetheless an entire lot extra of me but to find, so I’ll do my greatest this 12 months to submit extra on right here to make up for not seeing me as a lot in your screens.”
