Luba Mushtuk has become the most recent Strictly Come Dancing professional to announce that they are quitting the show. The 36-year-old dancer and choreographer took to Instagram to share an emotional statement, confirming that she will not be returning to the BBC programme for the 2026 series after 10 years.

On Friday morning, she penned: "With a heart full of gratitude, the time has come for me to step away from Strictly Come Dancing. I am deeply grateful for the past 10 years on this beautiful show. Thank you for the amazing opportunity and unforgettable memories. It has truly meant the world to me." She added: "Now it's time for me to follow my dreams beyond the show, and I'm excited for what the future holds. I can't wait to see you all on the Pro Tour and I'm really looking forward to it for one last time. With all my love, Luba."

Around the same time, Strictly issued their own statement confirming the news. It read: "A heartfelt thank you to Luba Mushtuk for her outstanding contribution to Strictly Come Dancing.

"Since joining in 2016 as an assistant choreographer and stepping into the professional dancer line-up two years later, Luba has been a valued member of the team - bringing professionalism, creativity, and her quality expertise year after year.

"Respected both on and off the dance floor, she has consistently delivered unforgettable routines, captivating audiences with her remarkable talent and signature elegance.

"We are incredibly grateful for her dedication to the programme and for always going above and beyond-whether through the care and commitment she showed her celebrity partners or her warmth and kindness behind the scenes.

"Luba has been, and always will be, a much-loved member of the Strictly family, and we wish her every success in the future."

Fellow Strictly star Karen Hauer, who has also stepped back from the show, was one of the first to comment. She wrote: "Love you so much."

Another dancer, Nadiya Bychkova, commented with lots of love hearts as Amy Dowden echoed: "Love you."

Gemma Atkinson, who is in a relationship with professional dancer Gorka Marquez, teased that there was more to come for the departed star. She wrote: "Exciting times ahead."

A couple of weeks ago, a source told Express.co.uk: "Luba is absolutely devastated. Strictly has been her life for years and she genuinely believed she would be back."

They added that the dancer has withdrawn from public view in the days since the news broke. "She's basically in hiding right now," the insider claimed. "She's not answering calls, not replying to messages - she just wants to process it privately."

Luba is just one of many pros not returning to the BBC dancefloor later this year. Gorka Márquez, 35, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Neil Jones, 43, Nancy Xu, 34, and Karen Hauer, 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, have all left the show.