Strictly stars have put on a united front as Luba stepped out with Katya Jones, Carlos Gu and Jowita Przystal, amid 'bloodbath' on the show, to support Johannes Radebe

Strictly Come Dancing's Luba Mushtuk supported her friend and co-star Johannes Radebe in his show Kinky Boots The Musical, at the the London Coliseum, shortly after being 'axed' from the BBC dancing competition.

Johannes currently preparing to reprise the role of drag queen Lola in hit musical, Kinky Boots, for a limited time only. The show follows the story of Charlie Price, who inherits his family’s failing shoe factory and develops a line of high-heeled boots after meeting cabaret performer Lola.

Ballroom dancer Luba looked stunning as she stepped out in a black blazer and knee high boots, following a brutal cast Strictly shake-up which left her “absolutely devastated”. The Strictly stars put on a united front as Luba stepped out with Katya Jones, Carlos Gu and Jowita Przystal.

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Luba shared the news on Friday that she was shockingly axed and said she thought "she had more time.” She took to her Instagram and wrote: “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. That you for the amazing opportunity and unforgettable memories. It has truly meant the world to me.”

The pro dancer 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.”

Shortly after, Strictly also issued statement, and said: "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."

The post continued: "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."

Karen Hauer, who has also been axed from the show, showed her support to Luba and commented: “Love you friend," whule professional dancer Amy Dowden wrote: “Love you.”

It comes after fans were left horrified when reports surfaced claiming favourites Karen Hauer, 43, Nadiya Bychkova, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk , 36, and Gorka Marquez , 35, have all been axed. Nadiya confirmed the news of her exit in a statement on her Instagram this week, days after Karen Hauer announced she was leaving the series after 14 years.

Many were left wondering why they had been chosen, with rumours of ageism abounding. However, it was later claimed that BBC bosses made their decisions based on how many followers each had on TikTok in a bid to attract younger audience.

Clips from Strictly already rack up millions of views online, but the thinking appears to be that bringing in dancers with built-in fanbases could supercharge that reach even further - helping the show stay culturally relevant for years to come.

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