BBC Strictly Come Dancing pro makes huge announcement after heartbreaking blow

A Strictly Come Dancing professional has been supported by fans after making an announcement

A Strictly Come Dancing professional has made a huge announcement after their heartbreaking blow.

Cypriot Ballroom and Latin dancer Michelle Tsiakkas initially joined the Strictly roster in 2022 following global tours alongside professionals Dianne Buswell, Johannes Radebe and Jowita Przystał.

Michelle made her debut on the beloved BBC dance show during season 20, joining fellow newcomers Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu and Lauren Oakley.

Last year marked her first celebrity pairing when she danced with EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick. Their journey ended in week ten, falling just three weeks short of reaching the grand finale.

Strictly fans were therefore left heartbroken when Michelle didn’t get a partner for this year’s series, joining Nancy Xu, Luba Mushtuk, Neil Jones and Gorka Márquez on the sidelines, reports Wales Online.

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The dancer expressed her heartbreak on social media in September, admitting: “To those of you asking how I am. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t gutted, but I think that’s a normal feeling to have.”

Michelle has now revealed thrilling news after being matched with Westlife star Brian McFadden for this year’s Strictly Christmas Special.

Taking to Instagram with a snapshot of herself and Brian in the training room on Wednesday (November 26), Michelle gushed: “Soooo happy to be partnered with this legend for the Christmas Special! We are having too much fun in the rehearsal room and we can’t wait to perform for you!

“Guess which dance we are doing (ps. It was the only dance Brian was hoping NOT to do).”

Fans immediately flooded the comments section with enthusiastic messages, with one viewer gushing: “What a team eeek. You guys will be great, I can’t wait to watch on Christmas Day!”

Another chimed in: “Been waiting for years for you to get a Christmas Special partner, so happy!!”

A third enthused: “SO excited, wonderful news, loving this already! Is it a Rumba? Jive? Ahh, I can hardly wait,” whilst another similarly expressed: “Congratulations Michelle, so glad you got a partner! I look forward to watching you!”

A fifth supporter echoed the excitement, declaring: “I’m so happy I can’t stop smiling! I can’t wait to see what kind of dance you’ll be doing, a Samba, a Cha Cha or something else? I’m so excited just thinking about it!”

Brian completes the 2025 Strictly Christmas Special roster, joining Scarlett Moffatt, Melanie Blatt, Jodie Ounsley (known as Fury from Gladiators), Nicholas Bailey, and Babatunde Aléshé.

Presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will host the seasonal celebration for their final time, whilst the judging panel of Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke will assess the festive performances.

Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer