Michelle Tsiakkas has told of how her 'world fell apart' when she was brutally sacked from Strictly Come Dancing during a '30 minute video call.'
The professional dancer, 30, who joined the series in 2022, confirmed she had been axed from the show this week after a string of pros were dropped in a cast bloodbath
Other favourites Karen Hauer, 43, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35, have also been cut.
Speaking in her first interview since her sacking, Michelle recalled the moment she 'burst into tears' after hearing the heartbreaking news.
She said: 'It felt like my world was falling apart, my dream was shattered. I gave my everything to the show for the four years - it was my whole life.
'It felt out of the blue. It was very tough. I was heartbroken. I went through so many emotions. I gave my life to Strictly.'
Michelle Tsiakkas has told of how her 'world fell apart' when she was brutally sacked from Strictly Come Dancing during a '30 minute video call'
Michelle revealed that she wasn't given a reason which made it 'hard to digest,' that she had been dropped.
She added to The Sun: 'I do wonder if they want to change so much because of the scandals in the past. I don’t think I was punished for Jamie’s [] wrongdoing because that wouldn’t be right. The pros have no power over the celebs.'
Jamie was axed from EastEnders in September after being suspended for using a disabled slur while on Strictly.
The actor was filmed using the term 'm********s' during his time on the competition, which was then publicly shared.
Jamie issued an apology at the time, sharing that he did not fully understand the derogatory nature of the term he used but now that he is aware, he is 'deeply embarrassed'.
Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for comment.
After learning her contract on Strictly would not be renewed, Michelle quit the professionals live tour.
She spoke about her axe from the first time as she was filmed leaving a class she'd taught at 's dance studio on Monday.
As she was greeted by photographers outside the London venue, one embraced her before saying: 'Gutted for you, gutted. It's shocking, heartbreaking.'
'It felt out of the blue. It was very tough. I was heartbroken. I went through so many emotions. I gave my life to Strictly,' she said
Michelle replied: 'It is what it is,' before adding: 'Thanks for the support.'
It comes after sources claimed that 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 its been claimed those with bigger online followings have been .
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.
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 and have also reportedly been axed from Come Dancing's spin-off .
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 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.
