Strictly Come Dancing fans fume as huge names pull out of show hours before final

Strictly Come Dancing fans aren’t happy with the line-up.

Strictly fans are not pleased with the line-up for the Strictly Come Dancing tour (Image: BBC)

The full line-up for the Strictly Come Dancing tour has been confirmed – and fans of the show aren’t happy as several huge stars are noticeably missing. Among them is 2025 finalist Carlos Gu, who is set to perform alongside Karen Carney on Saturday night. Jowita Przystal, who was partnered with Ross King during this year’s series, will also not be taking part. In addition, Nadiya Bychkova and Johannes Radebe, who danced with Chris Robshaw and Alex Kingston respectively, are absent from the tour.

Amy Dowden and Dianne Buswell will also be sitting out the 2026 tour, as will this year’s celebrity finalists Amber Davies and Karen Carney. However, it has been confirmed that George Clarke and Alexis Warr will reunite for the tour. Amber’s professional partner, Nikita Kuzmin, will also be appearing and is set to reunite with his former partner Layton Williams for a special performance.

Other 2025 stars include Lewis Cope and Katya Jones, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer, La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec, Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola, and Vicky Pattison & Kai Widdrington.

Newcomer Julian Callion will be showcasing his moves on the tour, but not alongside his partner Balvinder Sopal. Meanwhile, professionals Neil Jones, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk and Nancy Xu, all of whom were left without partners during this year’s series, have joined the tour.

The line-up left several fans unsatisfied as they took to social media to point out the lack of professionals performing.

One wrote: “Not going to lie, with this lot and the available celebs it’s a very underwhelming lineup. The tickets should not have gone up in price.”

Strictly fans weren’t happy with the line-up, noticing several pros will be missing (Image: BBC)

Another disappointed fan added: “So that’s Jowita, Carlos, Johannes, Nadiya, Amy & Dianne not doing the tour.”

A third responded: “Tbh Nadiya doesn’t really do it, Johannes is bus. Amy is still recovering and has her own tour and Dianne is pregnant and due quite soon. I feel like Jowita and Carlos are the most unexpected to do it.

“I know Carlos didn’t do it last year but he was brought in last minute to help and had some involvement and has done great this series. And Jowita has done very tour since she’s started so it feels odd without her.”

Another branded the line-up “underwhelming” as a fourth echoed: “Ngl, not a popular lineup of pros.”

It Takes Two presenter Janette Manrara will host the tour, while Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood return to the judges panel. The 2026 Live Tour opens at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on 23 January.