Strictly signs second youngest pro dancer in show history with huge social media following after big name stars axed

STRICTLY Come Dancing has hired the second youngest pro in the show’s history. Dance champion Maddie Ingoldsby has been performing since she was six years old and even took part in a one-off routine with the Strictly troupe on TV aged just 11. Strictly has hired Maddie Ingoldsby, the second youngest pro in the show’s history Credit: Instagram Maddie, who turned 21 in February, is also an actress and a singer/songwriter Credit: Instagram She turned 21 in February, making her just a few months older than former Strictly professional dancer Chloe Hewitt — still the show’s youngest pro dancer — when she joined back in 2016. Maddie is also an actress and a singer/songwriter and once said in an interview: “I really enjoy being a ‘triple threat’ rather than doing just the one thing. I don’t want to narrow anything down.” Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! But another huge asset she boasts is a massive social media following, which is hugely important as Strictly moves into a new chapter. She has 363,000 followers on TikTok and 43,500 on Instagram. The dancer had a part in the 2019 festive film Last Christmas She boasts 363,000 followers on TikTok and 43,500 on Instagram Credit: Instagram Maddie has joined the show in a year when multiple pro dancers have been axed — many of who have relatively few followers online. They include Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Karen Hauer, 44. Maddie, from Henley, Oxfordshire, has been competing since she was 11, with latin and ballroom partner Mark Chilcote, 26. Her mother Jane Vaughan is also a dancer. Most read in TV Dancer Karen Hauer, 44, was axed from Strictly Credit: BBC Another pro dancer who has been axed is Nadiya Bychkova, 36 Credit: BBC It was aged 11 she took part in a routine with the Strictly troupe on the BBC show. At the time, she said: “I loved seeing all the pros and celebrities. I met Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman and all the judges. My favourites were dancers AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt.” She attended Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead, Berks, and also had a part in the 2019 festive film Last Christmas. She appeared as the young version of the lead character Kate, played in the movie by Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke. Comment now