Fans of the BBC dancing show complained they didn’t know some of the contestants on this year’s competition, including Stacey Dooley, Vick Hope and Joe Sugg.
However it’s claimed the BBC’s lack of budget for the show is to blame.
An insider told The Sunday Mirror: “The BBC’s policy to save money has impacted on which people the show has signed.”
They went on to say the days of paying the bigger stars larger sums of money were over “in the interest of equality and BBC overspending”.
A representative from the BBC told The Sun Online “we do not comment on contractual matters”.
Rehearsals are underway for the start of this year’s series which begins on 8 September.
But there is one dancer who won’t be joining the main line up again – leaving fans gutted.
The Sun exclusively revealed professional Neil Jones had been snubbed by bosses for a third time in a row and will not be paired with a celeb.
A source said: “Neil has told Strictly bosses that he is unimpressed after having committed to the show alongside his wife Katya for the past few years.
“Neil feels it’s a snub to make sure the Jones' don't think they are too much in control of the show after she won with Joe McFadden last year.
“It’s yet another year waiting in the wings for him while his wife gets to steal the show.”
Also missing out on a place in the main professional line-up are the show’s two newest signings Luba Mushtuk and Johannes Radebe, who joined Graziano di Prima, 24, earlier this year.
Russian Luba, 28, and South African Johannes, 31, are said to both be “gutted” by the decision to leave them out of the main mix.
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220.
We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
Source: Read Full Article