Strictly Come Dancing reveal new professionals dancers for 2018 line-up
Three new professional dancers will be joining the Strictly Come Dancing line-up when the show returns to BBC One this autumn, replacing Chloe Hewett and veteran Strictly star Brendan Cole.
The new additions are Johannes Radebe, formerly a dancer on South Africa's version of Strictly, Italian Latin champion Graziano Di Prima and Russian dancer Luba Mushtuk.
Mushtuk will already be a familiar face to many Strictly fans. Having joined the show as an assistant choreographer in 2016, she has occasionally appeared in the show's group dances, and has performed in the popular Strictly live tour.
Strictly's executive producer Louise Rainbow said: "This is the biggest line-up of pros that we've ever had on Strictly. We are so lucky to have such an array of talent. A huge thank you goes to Brendan from all of us for 15 amazing series of Strictly. We wish him all the very best with his future projects."
Cole, who had been part of the show since its first series in 2004, revealed in January that his contract had not been renewed. "I’m quite emotional, a bit raw about it," he said at the time, hinting that his departure could be due to the "strong views" he has expressed about the show. Last year, he openly criticised the show's judges over their treatment of his celebrity dance partner, Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins.
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With Cole's departure, the only original member of the show's professional line-up is Anton Du Beke. Other professional dancers returning for the 16th series will include Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen and Kevin Clifton, Amy Dowden, Neil and Katya Jones, Pasha Kovalev, Oti Mabuse, Janette Manrara, Gorka Marquez, Giovanni Pernice, AJ Pritchard, and Alja? ?korjanec.
