Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed professional dancer Chloe Hewitt will not return for the new series.
Chloe joins fellow pro Brendan Cole, who has also left the BBC One programme.
A statement issued by Strictly on Wednesday confirmed Chloe has departed the ratings hit just months after Brendan’s exit, with three new professional dancers coming in.
With two out and three in, it means Strictly Come Dancing 2018 will boast a huge cast of 18 pro dancers, which is the most in its history.
Read more: Strictly’s message to Brendan Cole as new dancers confirmed
No reason for Chloe’s departure was given, but a Strictly rep said the show “wishes her well” for the future.
Among those reacting to Chloe’s exit was fellow Strictly pro Oti Mabuse, who said: “Sending this beauty love. Chloe, my Leo sister, you will always be a superstar. Beauty, brains, talented and a huge personality!”
Oti, who will remain on Strictly this year, added: “You will be dearly missed & with us in spirit and of course always a part of the sisterhood acting crazy, laughing loud and loving life.”
Chloe replied: “Awwww my Leo Sister for LIFE !! I love you sooo much.. can’t wait to watch you slay another series.”
https://twitter.com/OtiMabuse/status/1001757209808850944
Fellow pro Karen Clifton, who is also staying on Strictly, tweeted: “Big shout out to our friends @HewittChloe and @BrendanCole . You are going to be missed on the Strictly Dance floor.”
Big shout out to our friends @HewittChloe and @BrendanCole .
You are going to be missed on the Strictly Dance floor 💛 @bbcstrictly— Karen Hauer (@karen_hauer) May 30, 2018
Chloe joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 at the age of 22, becoming the show’s youngest female pro dancer.
She works professionally with fellow Strictly pro AJ Pritchard, and they’ve won titles previously including British Open Youth Latin Champions, National Youth Latin Champions and European Open Youth Latin Champions.
Chloe was never paired with a celebrity on Strictly, but did appear in the group dances, and was always on hand to step in if a pro was injured or unable to train.
Despite never getting the chance to compete for the Glitterball Trophy, Chloe had a big fanbase and plenty of those fans have shared their disappointment on Twitter that she won’t be returning.
I love @HewittChloe because she’s an amazing dancer and she’s the most kindest person and she’s going to be really missed #weloveyouchloe
— Katie Parkes (@katieparkes200) May 30, 2018
i’m actually really sad chloe’s not back but i really hope she continues doing what she’s doing being as amazing as she is :(❤️ @HewittChloe
— maiya (@diannebuswell__) May 30, 2018
Gutted that @HewittChloe won’t be back on @bbcstrictly was such a shame that a great young dancer never got a celeb partner
— Mark Owens (@Markchef1967) May 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/Evie_May_xx/status/1001745326146052096
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I'M JUST GOING TO CRY THAT CHLOES LEAVING STRICTLY @HewittChloe
— Katie (@KatieMu1997) May 30, 2018
Strictly confirmed at the start of the year pro dancer Brendan Cole would also be leaving, after being with the show since series one.
The three new dancers being introduced for 2018 are Italian Latin Champion Graziano Di Prima, professional South African Latin Champion Johannes Radebe and four-time winner of the Italian Dance Championship, Russian-born Luba Mushtuk.
Luba has been part of the Strictly family since 2016, working as an assistant choreographer, while Johannes has been a pro on Strictly South Africa for two years.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjZRykQAazd/?hl=en&taken-by=bbcstrictly
The returning pro dancers for 2018 are Anton Du Beke, Gorka Marquez, Karen Clifton, Kevin Clifton, Aljaž Škorjanec, AJ Pritchard, Giovanni Pernice, Janette Manrara, Pasha Kovalev, Oti Mabuse and Katya Jones.
Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova and Neil Jones will also return.
We can’t wait!
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