It's becoming increasingly clear that Come Dancing will look very different to what we are used to when it airs later this year.
The show's new hosts still haven't been announced after and stepped down last year and there has been a huge culling of professional dancer favourites like , 43, , 36, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, , 36, and , 35.
While as of last year it is still the most watched Saturday night show, viewership has fallen in recent years, with a notable drop in average viewers when the 2024 series aired.
So now ahead of the 2026 installment it seems the is taking a new approach - and it involves attracting a younger audience to watch the show.
It was claimed on Monday night that bosses have reportedly looked to when deciding which pros would be axed as part of the show's mass cull.
A new report claimed those with bigger online followings have been as the series tries desperately to attract that that 18-24 year olds demographic.
So what is involved in the BBC's bid to attract young viewers...
The BBC's desperate bid to attract young viewers: How the channel is looking to TikTok for new Strictly strategy after hiring social media savvy pros and signing more YouTubers
While the culling of pros is continuing, it is worth noting that last year a batch of much younger and social media savvy pros were hired including Alexis Warr who was paired with YouTuber George Clarke (seen together)
TikTok numbers
Bosses have reportedly looked to when deciding which pros would be axed as part of the show's mass cull.
It has been claimed those with bigger online followings have been as the series tries desperately to attract a younger audience.
One example appears to be axed Nadiya who boasts 19,000 followers, while , 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 Warr, 25, has a whopping 190,000.
A source said: 'Strictly is always looking for ways to increase its audience in terms of volume, but also in terms of attracting new, young viewers.
They told The Sun: 'Social media is a massive part of broadening that appeal, and TikTok is the perfect medium for a show where music and dance is at the forefront.
Strictly bosses have reportedly looked to TikTok when deciding which pros would be axed as part of the show's mass cull. Pictured left: Nadiya Bychkova, who has been axed. Right is Dianne Buswell who is safe for now
One example appears to be axed Nadiya who boasts 19,000 followers, while Dianne, with 966,000 followers, has kept her place in the line-up
Meanwhile Karen Hauer, 43, who was Strictly's longest-serving female dancer, is similar story with her 9,122 followers while safe newcomer Alexis, 25, has a whopping 190,000
'They won't simply lose someone from the line up because they aren't big on TikTok, but it might just be the thing that saves them from exiting the line-up.'
It comes after dancer Karen branded her axing from the show 'stressful and emotional'.
Meanwhile and have also reportedly been axed from Come Dancing's spin-off . Their replacements have not yet been announced.
Social media savvy pros
Alexis and Australian-born Julian Caillon were brought in last year to shake things up and were both given professional partners
Alexis is particularly active on TikTok and posts almost every day about her daily life and routines and had accrued an adoring legion of fans. This clip of her and George rehearsing has 146,000 likes
While the culling of pros is continuing, it is worth noting that last year a batch of much younger and social media savvy pros were hired.
Alexis and Australian-born Julian Caillon were brought in to shake things up and were both given professional partners.
Alexis, who is just 25, was paired with YouTuber and podcaster George Clarke - the perfect pairing to interest a younger audience.
While Julian, 30, was paired with actress Balvinder Sopal.
Alexis is particularly active on TikTok and posts almost every day about her daily life and routines and had accrued an adoring legion of fans.
During the show with George last year her behind-the-scenes rehearsal clips were watched and liked by thousands as their fan bases combined.
It remains to be seen which professionals will replace those who have been axed but it seems fair to say there may be a much younger cohort of dancers entering the Strictly family.
Casting more YouTubers and influencers
It was previously reported that Strictly had implemented a blanket ban on reality TV stars after bosses grew tired of 'certain reality celebrities peddling these stories about being "in talks" for the show when they have never been approached.'
The Sun reported in 2018: 'Bosses are now fed up of hearing the same people bandying around their own names just to shift a few copies of some weight-loss DVD.
'In light of this, they’ve put in place their own reality star ban to stop them from cashing in on the show.'
Prior to this, the show had welcomed Big Brother winner Allison Hammond as well as former The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright.
However, the rule has since been reversed, with younger YouTubers, reality stars and Love Islanders taking part in the show.
YouTuber , Love Islanders and and social media figures like and have all taken part in recent years.
It seems the BBC may be taking a leaf out of ITV's book my casting more and more YouTubers and influencers.
's AngryGinge proved social media stars are taking by storm after he was crowned King Of The Jungle last year.
The past few years have seen more and more younger YouTubers, reality stars and Love Islanders taking part in the show, like Amber Davies (seen)
I'm A Celebrity's AngryGinge (seen) proved social media stars are taking reality TV by storm after he was crowned King Of The Jungle last year
The carefully curated move to book influencers and social media stars on mainstream reality shows like I'm A Celebrity was an attempt to attract younger viewers to tune in.
It's a strategy that worked during the finale, as of the 7.1 million viewers who tuned in to watch the final - a whopping 74 per cent were in the 16-34 age bracket.
Twitch streamer and sensation AngryGinge, 24, followed in the footsteps of influencers Nella Rose and , both of whom have excelled in their careers since leaving the jungle with a string of TV deals.
BBC3 return
The Strictly approach to bring in younger viewers comes after Three returned as a broadcast TV channel in 2022.
The TV channel ceased operations in 2016 and was replaced by an online-only version available via the iPlayer.
The corporation moved the channel online in a bid to save around £30 million a year, and relocated its budget to fund drama on BBC One.
But it returned following the success of shows including Normal People and Fleabag.
The TV channel was targeted at audiences aged 16 to 34 and is broadcast from 7pm to 4am each day - the same hours as when it closed in 2016.
Axed stars
Karen Hauer was the latest star to be axed from the show last week.
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.'
, Michelle, and have all been given the boot too.
Karen Hauer was the latest star to be axed from the show last week
'Nobody feels safe right now and there's a real drive behind the scenes to 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'.
Daily Mail has contacted representatives of Fleur, Janette and the BBC for comment.
