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
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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
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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.

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'
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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'
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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 Alja¿ ¿korjanec, if at least one professional dancer wasn't going to be paired with a female celebrity
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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

‘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 MailOnline 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)
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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 Come Dancing 2024: Who are the couples?

Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell 

 JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE 

Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk 

Paul Merson and Karen Hauer 

Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał

Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin 

Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola 

Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones

Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez 

Wynne Evans and Katya Jones


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Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec 

Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas

Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe 

Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova


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 Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu


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