Strictly Pro Dancer Gorka Marquez Quits After 10 Years

0:00It's April 29th. This is Entertainment and Celebrity News, AI-powered stories from the world of fame. I'm Cory with the story. Gorka Marquez, the 35-year-old pro dancer, just announced he's done with Strictly Come Dancing after 10 years on the BBC hit. He's stepping away for good after scheduling clashes with the Spanish version last year, now focusing on the Strictly Pro Tour that kicks off this. Week in Stockton on Tees, on his podcast with fiancé Jimma Ackinson, Gorka opened up about the grind dancing 8 hours a day from 9 in the morning till 10 at night has. His back wrecked. He compared it to running an ultra marathon, saying fun dancing is great for body and mind, but this intense level is straight up painful, though he loves it. This exit is part of a massive shakeup on the show, with pros like Luba Mustuck, Karen Hauer, Nadia Baikova, and Michelle Siyaka's also out. Producers are eyeing dances with huge TikTok follow-ins to pull in younger viewers, ditching

1:01some veterans for fresh faces with bigger online buzz. Long time host Tess Daley and Claudia Winkleman are bowing out after the 2025 Christmas special, and even the spin-off it takes to is. Getting hit. Fleur East and Jeanette Monrara reportedly acts to mid a push for a total revamp. All this comes after scandals rock strictly, like pro dance or controversies, but the BBC insists no wrongdoing ties to these changes. They're plotting a clean slate for the 2026 series, with full details dropping soon. Keep an eye on how this fresh era spins out.