EXCLUSIVE: Strictly professional dancer Karen Hauer, 42, WILL return to BBC show this year after she was rumoured to be axed following ‘ageism’ row

Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hauer will return to the BBC show this year, MailOnline can reveal.

It was rumoured that the programme’s longest-serving dancer was axed by bosses, sparking an ‘ageism’ row among the cast, but it has been confirmed that Karen, 42, will be back as normal when the series returns in September.

Karen, who joined the lineup in 2012, is yet to win the glitter ball trophy but has reached several finals including with celebrity partners Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing and former TOWIE star Mark Wright.

Last year, Karen was partnered with former footballer Paul Merson, 57, but the pair were eliminated in week five and the previous season the dancer performed with DJ Eddie Kadi.

The Venezuelan, who was previously married to ex-pro Kevin Clifton, returns to the show alongside the likes of Strictly favourites Gorka Marquez, Johannes Radebe, and Jowita Przystal, who reached the semifinal stages last year with Pete Wicks.

In November, it was reported that Karen was at ‘risk’ of losing her place on the show because of her age when dancers like Dianne Buswell, 35, and Michelle Tsiakkas, 29, are younger participants.

Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hauer will return to the BBC show this year, MailOnline can reveal (pictured 2019)

It was rumoured that the programme’s longest-serving dancer was axed by bosses, sparking an ‘ageism’ row among the cast but it has been confirmed that Karen will be back

Last year, Karen was partnered with former footballer Paul Merson but the pair were eliminated in week five and the previous season the dancer performed with DJ Eddie Kadi (pictured 2024)

A TV source told MailOnline: ‘Karen is a well loved and respected member of the Strictly cast and there’s no way she would be axed, especially not because of her age.

‘She has dedicated years to the programme and can’t wait to get back in the training room with a new partner in the next coming months.’

Following speculation surrounding whether she would axed from the long running series due to being in her 40s, Karen spoke about not being ‘threatened’ by younger competitors.

Indeed, she said performing alongside new joiners makes her feel empowered and she is ‘inspired’ by the younger generation.

In February, she said: ‘Of course, Strictly brings in younger female dancers. I’m the longest serving on the show, but new dancers don’t threaten me – I watch them and I learn from them.

‘They inspire me and build my confidence. I’ve become the person for them that I didn’t have when I joined the show. I’m always there to help because there is a big spotlight on you on Strictly.’

As well as competing on the show with celebrity contestants Jeremy Vine, Simon Rimmer, Greg Wise and Chris Ramsey, Karen also danced with comedian Jayde Adams, which was her first female partnership.

On competing with a female for the first time in 2022, Karen said: ‘I’ve danced with a lot of male dancers, but it’s finding what works for them. This is more natural.

MailOnline has contacted the BBC and Karen’s representative for comment.

In November, it was reported that Karen was at ‘risk’ of losing her place on the show because of her age when dancers like Dianne Buswell and Michelle Tsiakkas are younger participants

Karen has competed on Strictly with celebrity contestants Jeremy Vine, Simon Rimmer, Greg Wise and Chris Ramsey, and danced with 2016 champion Ore Oduba on the show’s tour (pictured 2017)

‘It is female empowerment for me to be dancing with Jayde. I feel the most comfortable because there is that friendship.

‘We are girls and we talk about everything. We cry together, we laugh together. We share so many things. When it comes to the dancing we are able to put that emotion into it.’

It was alleged last year that a Strictly ‘cull’ of the professional dancers would see a change in the cast, with Gorka rumoured not to be coming back for the upcoming season.

But all the fan favourites including Katya Jones, Kai Widdrington, last year’s winner Dianne Buswell and Ukrainian star Nikita Kuzmin, will be waltzing back onto the dance floor.

In recent years, the Strictly pro lineup has seen Italian dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima axed following complaints about their conduct in the training room.

Giovanni faced bullying accusations from former celebrity partner Amanda Abbington while Graziano ‘kicked’ ex-Love Island star Zara McDermott during rehearsals.