Strictly Come Dancing’s Karen Hauer returns to social media after ‘brutal’ axe from BBC show

Karen Hauer has returned to social media less than a day after it emerged she had been axed from Strictly Come Dancing, some 14 years after she first hit the BBC dancefloor

Karen Hauer

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Karen Hauer has returned to social media following her shock axe from Strictly Come Dancing(Image: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Karen Hauer has returned to social media less than a day after she was reportedly axed from Strictly Come Dancing. The TV star, 43, has appeared on the BBC Saturday night favourite since 2012 and is the longest-serving professional on the programme but it was claimed on Tuesday that her contract had not been renewed.

Instead of addressing the issue directly, Karen simply shared a series of snaps which showcased her spending some time with her beloved pet dogs.

She wrote alongside the post: “Joey & Marley working the camera [paw prints emoji] Too early for Phoebe and I to be bothered!” But fans of the TV star were not shy of addressing the news in the comments section.

Strictly Come Dancing

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Karen is the longest-serving professional on Strictly and most recently danced with Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey(Image: PA)

One said: “I really hope the news I’ve just read isn’t true. What a huge loss to the show this will be. I honestly can’t see how much longer the show will last if it continues to cut loyal and fan favourite pros. Every year I hoped you’d get a partner that you could lift the glitter ball with but you’ve been denied that for too long. Bigger and better things are heading your way Karen. Sending so much love!”

Another said: “If this is true and your not going to be on Strictly this year then I won’t be watching it they are making a massive mistake if you go. Sending you lots of love xxx” A third wrote: “Going to be absolutely gutted if what we’re reading is true ! We 100% need you on Strictly!”

During her time on the competition, Karen has danced with the likes of comedienne Jayde Adams, Chris Ramsey, and, most recently, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey but it is thought that bosses are about to recruit new talent for the programme, which normally airs from September to December.

A source told Daily Mail: “Karen is the latest professional dancer to be told her contract will not be renewed this year. It’s very much a case of out with the old and in with the new. As the longest-serving female dancer, Karen found out last week that her time on Strictly is over.” In recent days , it has also been reported that Michelle Tsiakkas, who competed with former EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick in 2024, had been axed from the programme as well, along with Luba Mushtuk. The Mirror has contacted representatives for comment.

Karen Hauer

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Karen cuddled up to her dogs in her latest social media post (Image: karenhauer/Instagram)

Karen Hauer

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The Strictly legend did not address her apparent axing in the comments – but her fans did (Image: karenhauer/Instagram)

Some big changes are clearly on the way for the long-running competition, especially after hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced they had stepped down from the BBC series in a shock statement last year.

“It’s been some time since there was a ‘churn’ in the pro line-up, but they do happen every few years and there hasn’t been a big one in some time. The way producers look at it is a little like running a football team: even after Man City win the league they still change their team around and bring in fresh blood constantly, to stay at the top of their game,” a source told The Sun.

“A lot of the people going are now established names and stars in their own right but you have to remember that to be on the show, they also had to replace someone else at one point.”

Speaking about Nadiya’s sudden axing, source claimed that it was “out with the old, in with the new” approach with the pro and claimed her age of 36 had something to do with it.

“Her axing smacks of ageism,” the source said. “They’re clearing all the old crew out to make way for new dancers.” They added that Nadiya is hugely popular with fans and she “can’t understand why she won’t be back”. Nadiya was said to be “devastated” by the news.