Strictly Come Dancing professional addresses huge snub after not getting partner

Strictly Come Dancing professional Carlos Gu has spoken out after being “snubbed” for a partner on this year’s show.

The 31-year-old dancer and choreographer said he was “expecting” to be paired-up with a celebrity this year. He says he had an “amazing time” with singer Molly Rainford, finishing second, and presenter Angela Scanlon, coming sixth.

And while he has not got a partner this year, Carlos revealed he is still involved with Strictly. Speaking on the Monday Mile podcast with Aimee Fuller, he said: “I was so lucky to be given two incredible partners, Molly and Angela

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“We had a great time, we had an amazing time. I'm so proud of both of them. So for the third year, I was expecting that again, [I was like] ‘Okay, I'm ready, I’m ready to give more’.

“I'm still a part of the shows. I'm still doing the music act. I'm still doing some of the group numbers. If you are not in the competition, you have more free time, I think I'm just using my time wisely.”

Chinese national Carlos says he is spending his time “husband hunting” and practising his dance skills. It also gives him more time to relax and take some downtime.

He added: “When the season starts, when you're busy, your mind is literally on fire and twirling. You never really have the opportunity to really relax.

“I think I really need that this year. I think this is a good opportunity for me to be doing that, because through that I can learn something about myself that I didn't know before.

“Sometimes the decision is made [and it’s] not necessarily personal. It’s just because of the different perspectives, the different teams. Because we all want the show to look great.

“We all want this company, this production to look good. So, nothing is really personal. I think as long as you start to understand that, some of the decisions aren’t personal to you.”

Carlos, who joined Strictly in 2022 with fellow professional dancers Vito Coppola, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas, has now launched a new tour called Reborn, with Amy Dowden. Amy, 34, returned to Strictly this year after missing the last series following her breast cancer diagnosis.

Carlos added: “Amy’s the perfect example of being reborn, having Crohn’s disease, she battled so long and for so many years, and last year she had cancer, and she never gave up. She's a great example for everybody.”