Strictly Come Dancing confirms exit of fan-favourite dancer 10 years after joining cast of BBC hit

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I’m so sad to hear that Gorka Márquez is leaving Strictly Come Dancing! After ten amazing years on the show, it won’t be the same without him. It’s a real loss for the professional dancers and the whole show, honestly.

The BBC announced on social media that professional dancer Gorka Márquez won’t be returning to the show this year, making him the fifth pro to leave. He’ll be joined by Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas, who previously announced their departures.

The BBC has publicly thanked Gorka for his wonderful work on Strictly Come Dancing. They noted that since joining the show in 2016, he’s become a very popular professional dancer, loved for his energy, charm, and creative dance routines.

It’s been wonderful having him as part of the Strictly family, and especially lovely to watch him start a family of his own during his time with us. That personal journey has shown the same kindness, dedication, and good nature he’s always brought to the show.

We’re so thankful for all his hard work on the show over the years, and we’re thrilled to see him doing so well as a judge on the Spanish version of Dancing with the Stars. We wish him all the best for the future and hope he continues to find success and happiness.

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There had been talk for a while that Márquez wouldn’t be back on the show this year, mainly because he’s been busy with the Spanish version of Dancing with the Stars, called Bailando con la Estrellas.

He didn’t compete on Strictly last year because of scheduling issues, but he did participate in group performances with the professional dancers.

I was really touched to see that Carlos Márquez announced on Instagram that he’s retiring from professional dancing. He said that after making the initial decision to stop full-time work, he’s now decided it’s time to officially say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing – it’s a bittersweet moment for all of us fans, I think!

I’m deeply thankful for my time with Strictly and the BBC. The show has been more than just a job – it’s given me a career doing what I love, and it’s where I found love, started a family, and made friends for life. I’ll always cherish that.

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I’m so grateful for all the support and love everyone has shown me during this amazing experience.

The BBC hasn’t announced the professional dancers for the show yet, but we expect an announcement soon, as it typically happens around now.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

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Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she reported on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a journalism degree.

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2026-04-28 18:06