Showbiz

Fleur East and Janette Manrara Axed from Strictly

Fleur East and Janette Manrara have reportedly been axed from Strictly Come Dancing's spin-off It Takes Two as part of a dramatic cull.Insiders say bosses are p...

Fleur East and Janette Manrara Axed from Strictly
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Bintano News

March 22, 2026

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and  have reportedly been axed from Come Dancing's spin-off as part of a dramatic cull.

Insiders say bosses are plotting a major revamp of the BBC2 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 in a fresh era after all the recent drama.

Fleur East, 38, and Janette Manrara, 42, are reportedly set to be brutally axed from Strictly Come Dancing's spin-off It Takes Two as part of a dramatic BBC cull (seen in 2023)

Insiders say bosses are plotting a major revamp of the BBC2 weeknight show in the wake of a string of damaging scandals that have rocked the franchise (Fleur seen on It Takes Two)

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

The telly 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'.

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Daily Mail has contacted representatives of Fleur, Janette and the BBC for comment.

On Saturday, pro dancer Karen Hauer broke down in tears as she confirmed she has quit Strictly .

In the video, Karen said: 'Hey everyone, I've got something to tell you. It's a tough one, but here we go. After 14 years on Strictly Come Dancing, I've decided this is the right time for me to close this chapter and take on new projects in other areas that I'm passionate about.

'Strictly completely changed my life, not only as a performer and a teacher, but as a human being. I've had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people and brilliant celebrity partners who have become close friends and people I admire so much. 

'None of this would have been possible without the amazing fans. You've been there since day one, when I just moved to the UK and had no idea what I was getting myself into. I'm so grateful you watched me grow over the years and witnessed all of my different hair styles. 

'I'm going to miss everyone who makes the show possible, from hair, makeup, wardrobe, the crew behind the cameras, lighting, production and staging, the runners the arch and the band, the singers and the producers and welfare team who take such good care of us. It's an incredible machine powered by brilliant people. 

'To my fellow professional dancers, who I adore. I will always be cheering you on. You truly are the best in the business. I'll never forget joining the show 14 years ago with Sir Bruce Forsyth and Len Goodman and learning from such incredible legends along the way.

'And to the brilliant Tess and Claudia, maybe now we can finally be ladies who lunch in the autumn. 

'I'll even miss standing in front of the judges. Can you believe that smiling politely while sometimes secretly disagreeing, it's been an honour to share the ballroom with them.

'And last but not least, thank you to my friends and family who have supported me through it all. I love you all. Now this isn't a goodbye, it's simply see you later, because I will never stop dancing. 

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'Who would have thought that a young girl from the Bronx... would end up becoming the longest-serving female professional dancer on a British TV institution? Strictly will always be in my heart. I love you all.' 

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

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

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

The  dance competition recently underwent a major reshuffle, with several familiar faces leaving the series in what fans have described as a 'bloodbath'.

Those exiting the ballroom include , Gorka Márquez, ,  and Michelle Tsiakkas, marking one of the biggest cast shake-ups in recent years.

Michelle also sensationally quit the Strictly Professionals live tour ahead of it starting in April. 

Except for Karen, none of the other dancers leaving the show have yet to speak on the news.  

Following the news, dancer Aljaž Skorjanec shared his thoughts on the changes for the first time and spoke about what the shake-up could mean for his own role.

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