Two BBC Strictly Come Dancing pros from Russia have reportedly been urged to come out and condemn the invasion of Ukraine, with their silence said to be creating 'tensions' on the show.
Katya Jones and Luba Mushtuk, from Russia, are being told to end their silence over Vladimir Putin's actions - or never come back. Their fellow pros Nikita Kuzmin and Nadiya are Ukrainian.
“Tensions are high and there’s a lot of strong feeling about this," The Sun reports a source as saying. They added: “Some of the dancers would want producers to make a decision and say ‘You can’t come back for the next series’.”
A source said the pair's silence has led to a "bad taste" on the show, and added: "It’s been discussed among a group of them and they are concerned about it affecting the programme and causing a backlash."
Ex-pro James Jordan criticised the show's Russian pros for staying silent a fortnight ago, and wrote: "I don’t see many of the Russian dancers I know and have even shared the Strictly dance floor with them [sic] openly speaking out about the war against Ukraine. But [they] are still promoting themselves on social media – very disappointed."
He also added: "They know who they are – not one post about it." Head judge Shirley Ballas also had her say, taking to Instagram to compel her Strictly pros to stop promoting themselves as the crisis unfolds.
Click here to read the latest celebrity and TV news
Read more: Bristol Naked Attraction contestant shocks viewers with 'explicit' story
Also read: What has Claude Littner said about The Apprentice this year as he prepares for return?
