Professional dancer Nancy Xu expressed disappointment at not being paired with a celebrity partner on this year’s season of Strictly Come Dancing. The pairings for the new series were revealed during the pre-recorded launch show. Nancy, 34, who has been part of the BBC show since 2019, is among the professional dancers without a partner for this season. Alongside her, Luba Mushtuk, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Neil Jones will also participate in group dances only, while Gorka Márquez had previously announced he would not have a partner.

Despite not having a partner on the main show for the first time in five years, this is not the first time Nancy has not been reunited with a celebrity from a Christmas special. In recent years, her Christmas special partners have returned for the main show but paired with other professionals. For instance, Nancy danced with Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey in last year’s Christmas special, where they were runners-up. However, Harry is now partnered with Karen Hauer for the current series.

Similarly, in 2023, Nancy won the festive special with former EastEnders cast member Jamie Borthwick, but they were not paired together when he returned for the main show. Fans expressed disappointment over Nancy not having a celebrity partner this season, showcasing their support and admiration for her work on social media platforms.

A source close to Nancy shared that she is upset about not having a partner this season, especially after a successful run with her previous partners. Despite understanding the rules regarding not being partnered with someone she has danced with before, Nancy remains confused about the situation. The source highlighted Nancy’s dedication to the show and her dissatisfaction with being left out this season. Prior to the season’s start, it was reported that Nancy and Luba would not have celebrity partners this year, with sources acknowledging the disappointment felt by the dancers while expressing gratitude for their roles on the show.