Arlene Phillips Slams Axed Pro Dancers Rejection

has slammed dancers complaining about being axed from Coem Dancing, saying 'nothing in life is forever'.

The choreographer, 82, was axed from the Strictly judging panel after four years in 2008 and was replaced by .

The show is now undergoing another revamp with five dancers axed from the line-up ahead of the 2026 series.

But Arlene dished out some tough love, saying dancing is a difficult career and it's not suited for people who don't deal well with rejection. 

She told The Sun: 'No-one promises you its forever. Be ready. You have to be steely in this business. There is a lot of rejection. Live with rejection.

'Dancing takes its toll on your body. You have to be given time to restore your body. It's tough.'

'Dancing is a really tough career and you have to be ready for it.  I advise all students who want to go into this business, 'If you can't take rejection don't bother.''

Arlene added that, as celebrated as you might be while on Strictly, your time on the show will eventually end and you shouldn't 'depend' on it. 

The dancer added she has no interest in who will present Strictly after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman left, but added that the new hosts should be 'young, gay and fabulous'. 

Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, became the latest dancer to leave the show when she confirmed her exit last month. 

Other favourites Karen Hauer, 43, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35, have also been cut.

It comes after sources claimed that Strictly bosses judge some pros' following on TikTok when decided which stars would be axed in the show's mass cull.

Sources said that bosses have chosen to keep pros with a bigger online following in a desperate bid to draw in younger viewers.

Now it's been claimed those with bigger online followings have been chosen over dancers who are not so TikTok-friendly.

One example appears to be axed Nadiya Bychkova who boasts 19,000 followers, while Dianne Buswell, also 36, with 966,000 followers has kept her place in the line-up.

Karen, who was Strictly's longest-serving female dancer, is a similar story with her 9,000 followers while safe newcomer Alexis has a whopping 190,000.

Karen branded her axing from the show 'stressful and emotional'.

Over the weekend, she attended the LitPet's Sunday Dog Social, held at the luxurious 180 House on London's Strand, alongside her pup Marley, one of her four rescue dogs, whom she frequently shares on social media.

Speaking at the event about her heartbreaking career overhaul, she said: 'It's been a terribly stressful and emotional time and my four dogs have really helped me get through it. What's just happened is part of life and the stresses that go with it.'

Karen spoke about how her emotions impact the pups, saying: 'My dogs really feel it when I'm stressed and they have really helped me get through this.'

Meanwhile Fleur East and Janette Manrara have also reportedly been axed from Strictly Come Dancing's spin-off It Takes Two.

Insiders say bosses are plotting a major revamp of the BBC Two weeknight show in the wake of a string of scandals that have rocked the franchise.

Former Strictly pro Janette, 42, took over hosting duties in 2021 after eight years on the main show, while pop star Fleur, 38, joined the line-up in 2023 after reaching the final the year before.

But now both stars are said to be in the firing line as executives push for a bold new direction.

'Fans will be stunned that this bloodbath is continuing, but bosses are determined to overhaul the show completely,' an industry source told The Sun.

'Nobody feels safe right now and there's a real drive behind the scenes to usher in a fresh era after all the recent drama.

'But the priority is a clean slate by September and putting distance between the show and the controversies of recent years.'

The source added actions taken by BBC bosses do not mean Janette and Fleur 'are out of the picture entirely' and that there could be other roles for them 'elsewhere'.

Sources suggest bosses are aiming for an entirely fresh start following years of criticism and controversy surrounding the professional dancers.

Elsewhere, Neil Jones, 43, who has rarely had a celebrity dance partner on the show, will also go without one this year, as will Nancy Xu, 34. It's believed they may still appear in the big group dance numbers.