Professional dancer Karen Hauer has confirmed that she will be leaving Strictly Come Dancing after 14 years.

After it was reported earlier this month that five professional dancers would be axed from the programme in 2026, including Nadiya Bychkova and Gorka Marquez, Karen said she would also be “closing this chapter and taking on new projects in other areas that I’m passionate about.”

“Strictly completely changed my life, not only as a performer and a teacher but as a human being,” she said in a moving Instagram video.

She explained that “None of this would have been possible” without the fans of the show, and that Strictly is an “incredible machine powered by brilliant people.”

Breaking down in tears, she added: “Who would have thought than a young girl from the Bronx would end up becoming the longest serving female professional dancer on a British TV institution.”

She said the TV competition would always be in her heart, and that she would continue to cheer on her fellow professional dancers on the show.

In a statement, Sarah James, executive producer at the BBC thanked Karen for her “incredible contribution to Strictly Come Dancing over the last 14 years.”

“As the longest-serving female professional dancer in the history of the show, Karen has given so much of herself and her time to the programme, and we are extremely grateful for the passion, creativity and dedication she has brought to every single performance,” she said.

James added that the dancer has “captivated audiences with her talent, warmth and genuine love of dance and has been responsible for some of the most iconic partnerships and joyous routines the Strictly dance floor has ever seen.”

She continued: “We thank her for all these memorable moments and for her incredible work ethic. Her professionalism and sense of humour shine through everything she achieves and we can’t wait to see where her next chapter takes her.”

Earlier this month, a spokesperson for the BBC told Cosmopolitan: “Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.”