Strictly fans left confused over ‘benched’ pro dancers despite new cast signings

STRICTLY fans have been left feeling confused over “benched” pro dancers despite the show’s new cast signings. The BBC show kicked off last night in spectacular style with the celeb pairings being announced live on the dance floor. Strictly fans have been left feeling confused over the ‘benched’ pro dancers despite the show’s new cast signings Credit: PA Newcomer Maddie was paired with Love Island’s Cach Mercer Credit: PA Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Mark Karmalita and UK National Ballroom Champion Maddie Ingoldsby joined the show last night as new professional dancers. But only two of the brand new pros ended up landing partnerships with this year’s celebrity line‑up. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! Newcomer Maddie was paired with Love Island’s Cach Mercer, while Olympic Gold Medal winner Tabby Stoecker was matched with Mark. Fans were left puzzled over why the other three new signings weren’t matched with a celebrity at all. Olympic Gold Medal winner Tabby Stoecker was matched with Mark Credit: PA Only two of the brand new pros ended up landing partnerships with this year’s celebrities Credit: BBC Fans thought it unfair that not all the new signings were paired Credit: BBC The pairings were announced live on the dance floor Credit: BBC Taking to Reddit one said: “Benching 3 of the new 5 pros seems v wasteful, no?” A second wrote: “It is unfair that 3/5 of the new pros have been benched when there are pros who have a partner that have been consistently underperforming.” Another added: “I would’ve benched Lauren & Amy instead of the two new girls. Esp Lethabo loved her already.” While a fourth said: “I feel the same also why calling 5 new pros if you are gonna fully use just 2 of them.” Most read in TV However, a fifth explained: “I think it’s not about “we will bench these people”, it’s about who of the celebs match up well with the pros. “They deliberately have more pros than celebs for that reason – which means there are always some left over.” This comes after five fan-favourite Strictly pro dancers were axed in March, in what is now being hailed as the “Strictly bloodbath”. The professional dancers not back on the dancefloor this year are Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Karen Hauer, 43, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35. STRICTLY COME DANCING 2026 PAIRINGS Eastenders’ Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington Gavin and Stacey’s Melanie Walters and Aljaž Škorjanec Will Best and Dianne Buswell Cach Mercer and Maddie Ingoldsby Dame Sarah Storey and Julian Caillon Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał John Nellis and Katya Jones Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita Comment now