Karen Hauer is AXED in Strictly massacre: Longest-serving feminine professional dancer is sacked in main lineup shake-up
Strictly Come Dancing bosses have axed professional dancer Karen Hauer, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.
The star, 43, is the latest cast member to be sensationally dropped from the hit BBC show, with insiders claiming the entire line-up of professional dancers could be set for a major overhaul.
Karen – the show’s longest-serving female professional after joining in 2012 – has performed on the programme for 13 years. She was informed of the decision in recent days.
It comes after Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Márquez, 35, were also axed from the series, with sources claiming all of the Strictly pros are already aware of their fate.
One insider said: ‘Karen is the latest professional dancer to be told her contract will not be renewed this year.
‘It’s very much a case of out with the old and in with the new. As the longest-serving female dancer, Karen found out last week that her time on Strictly is over.’
Strictly Come Dancing bosses have axed professional dancer Karen Hauer, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal (pictured 2012)
A second source added: ‘It’s an awful fate for the professional dancers who have dedicated their careers to the show.
‘Karen was obviously very upset after being told the news, but she is trying to remain positive about the future. She works as a choreographer and knows she can focus more on that, as well as her work in the fitness industry.
‘It’s also looking increasingly likely that Aljaž Škorjanec will not return, while Carlos Gu and Johannes Radebe have been given the green light to stay.’
Karen’s last celebrity partner on the series was Gladiator star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, while the year before she danced with former footballer Paul Merson and, in 2023, comedian Eddie Kadi.
She showcased her versatility as a choreographer by performing with comic Jayde Adams in 2022, following on from Katya Jones, who was the first Strictly female pro to perform in a same-sex pairing.
Other celebrity partners Karen has performed with include Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer and TOWIE’s Mark Wright, one of the first reality stars signed to the show.
Despite her long-standing commitment, Karen has never won the Strictly glitterball trophy, though she did reach the final with Mark Wright in 2014.
Karen was previously married to former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton, but their marriage ended after three years. Despite the split, the pair continued to work together on the show.
The Daily Mail has contacted Karen’s spokesperson for comment.
The star is the latest cast member to be sensationally dropped from the hit BBC show, with insiders claiming the entire line-up of professional dancers could be set for a major overhaul
Following Karen and Kevin’s split, he met documentary-maker Stacey Dooley when they competed and won Strictly in December 2018.
The couple now share a daughter, Minnie, while Karen is in a new relationship with personal trainer Simon Davidson.
The current Strictly shake-up comes after hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly quit the series last year.
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, while pros such as Nadiya, Gorka, Luba, Michelle, and now Karen have been completely dropped from the lineup.
