As a showbiz journalist, Strictly Come Dancing is one of those shows that dominates my work life. But even I couldn't have predicted the mass cull of the pro dancers, which is taking place at the moment. Having interviewed and/or met most of them over the years, I feel quite invested in this. Ihave previously written about the fact that I think it is a huge mistake to shake up the dancers while also expecting the public to adjust to new presenters following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman's departure. I also wonder at the BBC's thought process with these axings, and I have my own opinions on who should stay and go based on both their talent and what I have found them to be like.

At the time of writing, it has been reported that Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Gorka Marquez, Michelle Tsiakkas and Karen Hauer have all been axed from this year's lineup. Meanwhile, it is also claimed that Neil Jones and Nancy Xu will sit on the sidelines for most of the series, as they will not have celebrity partners. Being honest, Luba and Michelle's axe didn't surprise me. Going by fan reaction, they have never really made a massive impression and have been inconsistently paired with celebrities, so we never really got a chance to know them.

I also wasn't hugely surprised they axed Gorka for the simple reason he was unavailable for most of last season due to his commitments to judging the Spanish version of the show. Although the BBC haven't said this, I think any employer would be annoyed if you prioritised another gig over what is ostensibly your day job. I do think it might have been a bit hasty, however. When I have interviewed him in the past, he has spoken about how he has experience teaching people in wheelchairs to dance as it is "very big in Spain" and he was keen for the show to feature a contestant in a wheelchair. He is genuinely passionate about making dance inclusive, which is a great quality in a pro dancer.

Karen Hauer is also a huge loss to the show after 13 years. Although she has never won the glitterball, she did reach the finals with Mark Wright in 2014. She brings consistency and reliability and is someone who has always shown her loyalty to the BBC and never tried to make out she is a bigger star than the show. In every interview, she makes sure to wax lyrical about it. I would have definitely kept her and perhaps segued her into a judging or presenting role down the line.

Meanwhile, Nadiya Bychkova was reportedly dropped due to "tantrums" with reports suggesting her alleged conduct backstage contributed to the decision to remove her from the programme. I didn't experience a tantrum as I have only interviewed her once, but it was very obvious she was "self-assured". She was more than a little pushy, jumping in on questions that weren't for her and not allowing her partner to get a word in edgeways. But honestly, I got the impression she was a diva rather than the temperamental picture being painted of her at the moment. But I can see how that wouldn't sit well with bosses.

Katya Jones seems to have escaped the cull so far, and I am surprised she has lasted this long. She has been branded a diva in the past, and I have witnessed her having a couple of "moments" over the years. She has a tendency to try and take over and is very good at self-promotion. Not that this is a bad thing necessarily - you have to be a little pushy in the showbiz world. But when you are arriving at an awards ceremony 30 minutes ahead of your Strictly partner so you can have a little solo red carpet moment, which I witnessed in 2023, or rearrange a room for the "best light", eating into interview time, it does make it seem more about you than the show. Yes, she is hugely talented, but Strictly is an ensemble.

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When it comes to Neil, who choreographs many of the show's numbers, I am honestly at a loss as to why they keep benching him. I have spent time with him in his home to interview him for a feature, and I honestly think they are wasting a huge asset by having him sit out the competition.

At the moment, all the dancers must be quaking in their boots, wondering who is next, and while nothing has been confirmed about their futures yet, there are some dancers they would be bonkers to get rid of if they want to avoid a backlash. As someone who monitors fan reactions as part of my job, I can guarantee there would be uproar if Amy Dowden got axed. Ditto Dianne Buswell, who (fingers crossed) will be performing this year for the first time since having her baby. She is a genuine ray of sunshine and a hugely talented addition to the line-up.

Losing Johannes Radebe would also be foolish. He is so likeable his star has risen hugely outside the show but he has never been pushy about it and merely embraced opportunities which have come his way. It is a testament to him that he has remained with the show through his current success, including his star has risen hugely outside the show, and he has had an acclaimed run in Kinky Boots in the West End, and the BBC is lucky to have that sort of loyalty.

Another star who is rapidly becoming hugely popular outside the show is Nikita Kuizmin. He has the broad appeal that works from teenagers to grandmothers. He is also a lovely guy. When I interviewed him with his celebrity partner Amber Davies last year, he was hugely protective and defensive of her following backlash about her West End experience. Everyone needs a Nikitia in their corner. Suffice to say, my mind is somewhat boggled at the BBC's thought process with the current cuts.