Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Gorka Marquez heartbreakingly claimed he still wants to be on the show in 20 years, just weeks before Ax claims.
The 34-year-old Spaniard is reportedly one of five professional dancers in the show who bosses are considering axing from the line-up next year.
However, it will apparently come as an unwanted shock to Gorka, who previously claimed he has no plans to leave the show in the near future.
Ahead of the show’s 20th anniversary series, Gorka was asked what he thinks the BBC dance show will look like in the next 20 years.
Revealing his intention to stay, he said: ‘He replied: ‘I don’t know, but I sure hope I’m still here in 20 years.’ I’m turning 53, but hopefully I’ll still be here.’
This year, Gorka was eliminated fifth in the competition with his famous dance partner Dr. Punam Krishan.
Some of the show’s biggest and best-loved stars who have been competing for years are at risk of being caught in a huge shake-up as bosses eye up a younger generation of dancers, according to reports The sun.
Those at risk of losing their place on the show are believed to be Nadiya Bychkova, 35, Neil Jones, 42, Karen Hauer, 42, Gorka and Katya Jones.
Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Gorka Marquez heartbreakingly claimed he still wants to be on the show in 20 years’ time, just weeks before Ax claims
The 34-year-old Spaniard is reportedly one of five professional dancers on the show who bosses are considering axing from the line-up next year
This year, Gorka was eliminated fifth in the competition with his famous dance partner Dr. Punam Krishan
Outside of Strictly, Gorka’s other role recently shocked fans when he revealed he is also a judge on the Spanish version of the competition, Bailando Con Las Estrellas.
Gorka has shown his more serious side on the program and even gave a score of two against one celebrity, who stormed the set.
He told the star: ‘Where do I start? I’m a little speechless, and not because it was good. It’s more bad than good
On an episode of It Takes Two, Kai Widdrington interviewed Gorka about his role and said: ‘Earlier this year, Spain relaunched Bailando Con Las Estrellas.
‘It is presented by the Argentinian model Valeria Mazza and one of the well-known Spanish presenters, Jesús Vázquez. There are not three, not four, but five judges, including Blanca Li, journalist and writer Boris Izaguire, director of musicals Julia Gomez Cora, Antonia Dell’ate, and the fifth judge, I think you might recognize it – it’s our own Gorka Marquez.”
Recounting the ‘savage’ moment, Gorka said the celebrity stormed the set and refused to be filmed – before returning for the second half of the show.
Talking about his participation in the show, Gorka said: “I absolutely love it, I learned a lot that I can now take with me as a professional and help the celebrities. I know what the judges want to see.”
Following news of the axe, Strictly has found itself in an ageism row as the professional dancers allegedly facing the ax have been revealed.
Strictly dancers reportedly facing the ax as bosses look to a younger generation of dancers
According to The Sun (pictured by Nadiya Bychkova, Tom Dean), some of the show’s biggest and best-loved stars who have been on for years are at risk of being hit by a massive shake-up.
Those at risk are thought to include Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones (pictured), Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez and Katya Jones, four of whom have already been eliminated
Sources claimed the quintet are being dubbed the ‘fading stars’ of the line-up, with show bosses on the hunt for ‘younger, up-and-coming counterparts’.
Currently, Katya, 35, is the only professional left in the competition, but she was previously embroiled in a ‘groping scandal’ with her celebrity partner Wynne Evans.
In contrast, younger professionals such as Jowita Przystal, 30, who teams up with Pete Wicks, and Vito Coppola, 32, who dances with Sarah Hadland, have wowed viewers.
After a year in which the much-loved BBC show was hit by a series of scandals, sources now claim bosses are planning to bring in a new generation of young dancers, with up to five experienced names at risk of being axed.
A source said The sun: ‘Revising the line-up was always about making a fresh start, and that would always be influenced by which dancers performed well in this series.
‘The feeling is that the Strictly group is made up of some fading stars, while others are rising stars.
“And in many cases, there are certain characters whose shoes could easily be filled by younger, up-and-coming counterparts. It’s harsh, but it’s just part of the traditional business of show business.’
A representative for Strictly Come Dancing declined to comment. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez and Katya Jones for comment.
Viewers of the beloved show were divided over reports that the show’s shakeup means saying goodbye to some fan favorites
After a year in which Strictly was hit by a series of scandals, sources now claim bosses are planning to bring in a new generation of young dancers (Karen Hauer pictured)
While some insisted they would ‘turn off’ if the list of reported names disappeared, others admitted the show could use a revamp.
Those who were against the abolition said: ‘I will stop watching if Gorka and Katya are axed!’; “This is so tone deaf! The positives are what people like. People follow and support the pros as much, if not more, than the celebrities. Wake up and take out some judges!’
‘We need better and more traditional song choices and traditional routines’; ‘They just need to add more male pros to balance out with the girls’; ‘UMMM WHAT’; ‘If they do this, I predict the show won’t last much longer… dropping Gorka would be a huge mistake, he’s the reason many of us watch!’;
‘Not Katya and Gorka, they are great dancers and also good choreographers that the show cannot lose’;
Some of the favorites. Yes, the show does change, but it’s jarring to cut viewers’ favorites all at once. I know the TV changes every now and then, but to get rid of Neil, Katya, Karen, Gorka etc. I think the viewers can change the channel’
‘It doesn’t need to be revived, people have their favorite plus points. They really need to go back to basics with the theme weeks, over/under marking and terrible song choices.’
One person said they were expecting Karen, but others defended, saying: ‘I expected Karen to be the longest serving female pro… But Nadiya can’t go away – she needs to have her first female celeb next year. Katya’s choreo is brilliant and Gorka should win after reaching the final of a year with Alexandra Burke.’
However, some agreed it was time for a change, saying, “It’s somewhat needed, especially on the female side. I’m not sure I’d dump Gorka and Katya as they still deliver somehow, but there are others whose absence would be less missed.”
However, some agreed that it is time for a change, saying: ‘It is somewhat needed, especially on the female side’
Currently, only Katya is competing on this year’s Strictly, but she was previously embroiled in a ‘groping scandal’ with her celebrity partner Wynne Evans
Others said: ‘Gorka!? No. Neil yes, but Gorka is a big mistake’; ‘I agree with Neil going, but the rest absolutely not! ‘I think Karen should be suspended, but not Katya, her choreography is too good! However, we need more girls who are fun and cause chaos like Vito and Nikita’;
‘Keep Katya, but the rest of that list can go’; “As long as Nikita and Johannes are safe.”
It was previously reported in July that some of Strictly’s biggest professional names were at risk of being axed as bosses planned to bring in some fresh young names.
A source told The Sun: ‘There is a fear that taking part in the show will make them more open to feeling entitled and untouchable.
‘It is not a done deal, and it will not be the case that the oldest or longest serving will be shown the door. It would be a carefully considered process that would also take other factors into account.
Before adding: ‘The fact that the BBC is even considering making big changes and bringing in fresh blood is a sign of how keen they are to move on and do everything they can to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again happens.’
Strictly’s milestone 20th year was marred by scandal – after actress Amanda Abbington unexpectedly quit the show last October before claiming her partner Giovanni Pernice abused her. He was later acquitted of ten of her sixteen charges.
The show was then hit by a new wave of scandal when Graziano Di Prima was sacked in July for ‘kicking’ his partner, Love Island star Zara McDermott.
Although the BBC has refused to comment on the speculation surrounding the furore, this is the latest in a series of times the show has been accused of age discrimination.