Kai Widdrington has broken his silence after being axed from the main show line up for the 20th anniversary series of Strictly.
The professional dancer, who made it all the way to Blackpool last year with his partner Angela Rippon, has opened up about his disappointment to not be part of a celebrity pairing.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Kai explained: ‘Everyone wants to get a celebrity. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my time this series. Two boys couldn’t have one this series and sadly I am one of them.’
‘Some of us don’t get partners and that’s the way it is. Let’s see what happens next year. Hopefully I’ll get one then.’
With the cloud of controversy hanging over the show the toxicity that engulfed the once-loved Saturday night juggernaut has acted as a deterrent for female celebrities.
Strictly’s Kai Widdrington has broken his silence after being axed from the 20th anniversary main show line-up
The professional dancer, who made it all the way to Blackpool last year with his partner Angela Rippon, has opened up about his disappointment to not be part of a celebrity pairing
This means that for the first time the lineup features an uneven split of six women compared to nine men.
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However Kai admitted he is still very much looking forward to still being a part of this year’s ‘amazing’ series.
He added: ‘We have been filming a lot of the group routines. There are some amazing ones. We have worked really hard through the summer to get them ready for the series. One of the ones I feature in is very funny.’
Last month Strictly fans declared that bosses have made a ‘bad call’ after it was reported Kai wouldn’t have a partner.
Fans took to social media to share their fury at the news, admitting they’re ‘absolutely devastated’ that Kai won’t be dancing with another star this year.
One was also quick to question the decision to bring back pro Aljaž Škorjanec, if at least one professional dancer wasn’t going to be paired with a female celebrity.
Posts to X included: ‘What!!! No!!! @kaiwidd must have a partner. Does that mean @Mr_NJones is partner-less too?’
‘No way!! Kai is one of the best and a true gent; I think the Strictly shine is tarnishing before our eyes!’
Speaking to the Daily Star, Kai explained: ‘Everyone wants to get a celebrity. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my time this series. Two boys couldn’t have one this series and sadly I am one of them’
He added: ‘Some of us don’t get partners and that’s the way it is. Let’s see what happens next year. Hopefully I’ll get one then’
One was also quick to question the decision to bring back pro Aljaž Škorjanec, if at least one professional dancer wasn’t going to be paired with a female celebrity
‘Gutted Kai isn’t getting a partner this year. He’s an absolutely sweetheart and surely is a great ambassador for #Strictly after the recent controversies;’
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‘This is a very bad call. Kai is a huge audience favourite; Kai is one of my favourite male pros too;’
Noting Aljaz’s recent return, one fan also posted: ‘They’ve brought back an old pro and given him a partner so they could bench those… what in the world is going on! Why??’
‘Tbh Aljaz wouldn’t come back to just sit on the bench, so wbk he’ll get one, but NEIL AS WELL?? HUH? I assume it will be Neil and one of Carlos or Johannes (if too busy with KB rehearsals) but… kai? Make it make sense.’
While Kai has drawn the short straw this year, fellow professional dancer Neil Jones is over the moon to be dancing with a celebrity after only so far receiving two partners since joining the show in 2016.
Speaking to at the NTAs he said: ‘I just love everything about the show. I’m one of those that I love to support the other pros. I look at it as a I’m there for the whole show and to support them all.
While Kai has drawn the short straw this year, fellow professional dancer Neil Jones is over the moon to be dancing with a celebrity after only so far receiving two partners since joining the show in 2016 (pictured during the Christmas special in 2022 with Rosie Ramsey)
‘I honestly say what I love about Strictly is 20 years now and every year there’s always changes happening and you ask yourself how can we get stronger?
‘And every year they get stronger and stronger and they they just have such a great support team. And so I just I love it.’
He added: ‘I’m always saying I’ll be back as long as you want me and as long as my body can hold.’
Strictly returns on Saturday evening as the couple pairings are revealed for the first time ahead of next week’s first live show.
STRICTLY LINE-UP 2024
Chris McCausland
Age: 46
Profession: Comedian
Chris says: ‘If anybody out there is thinking – How the hell is he going to do that? – then rest assured that I am thinking exactly the same thing.’
Dr. Punam Krishan
Age: Unknown
Profession: GP and broadcaster
Punam says: ‘I have watched Strictly every year and it feels extra special that it’s the 20th year, I can’t believe I will be the one getting Strictly-fied.’
Toyah Willcox
Age: 66
Profession: Singer, actor, presenter
Toyah says: ‘I’m super excited and love this show. To be a part of it, the spray tan the glitter. Its a landmark year for me I came a pensioner, Glasto and now I get spray tans.’
Pete Wicks
Age: 36
Profession: Reality star
Pete says: ‘Dancing live in front of the nation every Saturday? Absolutely terrifying.’
Shayne Ward
Age: 39
Profession: Actor and singer
Shayne says: ‘I’m no stranger to live TV, but dancing Latin and Ballroom in front of millions is a whole new level.’
Tom Dean
Age: 24
Profession: Olympic medal winning swimmer
Tom says: ‘Now I can officially talk about how excited I am to get stuck into something new, meet some brilliant people and get dancing’
Nick Knowles
Age: 61
Profession: TV presenter
Nick says: ‘I am going to really go for it I will throw myself at it 100 per cent!’
Montell Douglas
Age: 38
Profession: Former Team GB Olympian and current Gladiator
Montell says: ‘Hopefully a few of my Gladiator moves will come in handy with the Tango or Paso Doble!’
JB Gill
Age: 37
Profession: Singer
JB says: ‘A lot of the ballroom styles are very alien to me – I didn’t do those dances growing up. I am not a trained dancer.’
Wynne Evans
Age: 52
Profession: Opera singer, presenter
Wynne says: ‘The stuff I’m nervous about is the ones that involve jumping, I don’t really want to do the jive, I’m nervous about that.
Tasha Ghouri
Age: 25
Profession: Model and reality star
Tasha says: ‘I’ve been watching the show since I was little – it’s a firm Ghouri family favourite – so this is a total dream come true.’
Sarah Hadland
Age: 53
Profession: Actress
Sarah says: ‘I feel particularly excited to be part of such an iconic show in its 20th year.’
Jamie Borthwick
Age: 30
Profession: EastEnders star
Jamie says: ‘I had a ball doing the Christmas special, so when I was asked to join it was the easiest yes!’
Sam Quek
Age: 35
Profession: Former GB hockey player and presenter
Sam says: ‘I am so relieved it is out there now it has been hard to keep a secret! The rumours were spreading and I had to lie! I am used to dancing on a girls night out but I will give it my all’
Paul Merson
Age: 56
Profession: Former footballer
Paul says: ‘I won’t worry about it until it starts but when it does I will be nervous – I have only danced three times in my life!’