Overview

• Luba Mushtuk and Nancy Xu have reportedly been told they will not receive celebrity partners this series and will instead feature in group routines and help with choreography.
• The BBC has not commented on the reported decisions, which are common in seasons where the professional lineup exceeds the 15 celebrity slots.
• Fans are using the reported unpaired pros to speculate on this year’s celebrity–pro pairings on social media and Reddit.
• Gorka Marquez is set to appear in ensemble roles for part of the run as he judges Spain’s Bailando Con Las Estrellas, meaning he will not lead a celebrity partnership for the full series.
• Separately, police said a man was arrested on August 22 on suspicion of rape and non‑consensual intimate image abuse, and the BBC stated there is nothing to suggest a link to the current Strictly production.