Luba Mushtuk, a regular mainstay on Strictly Come Dancing, has explained a surprising role she had behind-the-scenes before stepping in front of the cameras. The popular pro was speaking on the spin-off It Takes Two to co-star Lauren Oakley when she opened up about her history on the show.
Mushtuk has had four celebrity partners on the regular series since she first joined the cast seven years ago, but that wasn't her first job on the BBC juggernaut.
"When I finished my competitive career I just really wanted to try something new," she explained.
"I remember Jason Gilkison [the show's choreographer] asking if I would like to be his assistant and I remember saying, 'Absolutely, yes'.
"I had a call with him and two days later, I was already here. I remember sitting there for two years thinking, 'I just want to be on that floor'."
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Her wish came true eventually, as she went on: "In 2018, I actually joined the show. It was such a magical experience."
When Lauren said that Luba's childhood self "made it", she added: "She's not finished yet. She's only starting! Watch this space!"
Luba doesn't have a celeb partner this year, and the last time she took part in the show was with Nick Knowles in 2024. Her best-performing celeb was Waterloo Road favourite Adam Thomas, who finished ninth in 2023.
This weekend, the show goes to Blackpool's Tower Ballroom, but one of the remaining contestants, La Voix, won't be dancing. After sustaining an injury, the drag queen has been given bye to the following week.
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"Some people have been saying online that it's only because I wanted to get out of doing the Samba," she said on It Takes Two.
"I'd just like to clarify, I was desperate to get to Blackpool and do the Samba! The production that was planned was going to be incredible."
Of the contestants who will take to the floor, acting royalty Alex Kingston will do a Couples' Choice dance to a mash-up of 'History Repeating' by Propellerheads featuring Shirley Bassey, and 'Look at Me' by Geri Halliwell.
EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal will have a go at an Argentine Tango to 'The Logical Song' by Supertramp, while Emmerdale's Lewis Cope will dance a Charleston to the Arctic Monkeys' 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor'.
Football ace Karen Carney will dance a Paso Doble to 'O Fortuna' from Carmina Burana, while content creator George Clarke is attempting a Salsa to 'Rock This Party' by Bob Sinclar.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online, specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who'll listen.
