‘She’s been told to step it up…’: Beloved Dancing With the Stars pro faces being replaced by a rising troupe newcomer — as insiders claim producers are losing patience and planning a brutal cast shake-up next season… - suong
A BELOVED pro on Dancing With the Stars faces being dumped in favor of a younger rising star, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
The cast shakeup is expected to come after the pro dancer was told she needed to “step it up” this season following complaints about her choreography and teaching methods, an insider has claimed.
Pro dancer Rylee Arnold, 20, is in danger of being replaced by new troupe member Hailey Bills, 19, who has skyrocketed in popularity since joining this year, the insider said.
Rylee, who is the younger sister of longtime pro Lindsay Arnold, was cast on the show when she was just 18 as a full-time pro, bypassing the traditional troupe process.
Many viewers have complained that she got to skip the line due to her sister, and that being in the troupe would have benefited her.
While being in the dance troupe does not guarantee a spot as a pro, it has been the path to DWTS stardom for many of the current and former pros.
And the insider said Rylee has earned the attention of producers for the wrong reasons this year.
“People behind the scenes felt like Rylee needed to step it up this year, and she didn’t,” they said.
Hailey, meanwhile, has garnered nearly 200,000 Instagram followers from her brief time on the show and impressed producers so much she may have landed herself a larger role next year.
“Hailey is all but confirmed to be a pro next year. Producers have already told her in more or less words that she is a lock in to be full time as a pro moving forward.
“They felt she has paid her dues. She was on DWTS Juniors, she has been a troupe member, and she knows the pros well.
“She attends so many rehearsals and absorbs all the pros’ teaching like a sponge. She’s been the most impressive new addition since the show hired Daniella [Karagach].
“The pros all love her and think the world of her. She’s particularly impressed Derek a lot, and he’s a huge advocate for,” a show insider said.
The source then explained that it’s still too early to confirm who she would replace, as the producers don’t have their finalized lineup until just before the season starts.
However, they did spill that ”it’s more likely that Hailey would take the place of someone newer rather than a pro.”
“So there is a chance she would take Rylee’s place. People behind the scenes felt like Rylee needed to step it up this year, and she didn’t.
“So replacing Rylee would be the most likely scenario, but nothing is confirmed yet,” the source added.
TWO TO TANGO
As season 34 has reached record highs in ratings and viewer votes, which will make producers “stricter than ever” with who they decide makes the cut for a prestigious spot as a pro next year.
While this year’s competition is still early on in the season, producers have apparently been keeping a close eye on how everyone on the ballroom floor is performing to determine who will earn a spot next year.
According to a production insider, as far as the pros go, there are “a couple” who execs feel “aren’t quite keeping up with the rest of the ensemble.”
Adding to who may be in particular need of a boost, they claimed: “There are talks that Rylee [Arnold] and Jan [Ravnik] would be most on the chopping block for next season if they don’t start stepping it up.
“With Rylee, there has been an emphasis that she needs to be a better teacher and make her partners learn the technique.
“Her and her partners, while beloved, have not improved drastically and make mistakes even deeper into the season.
“While Jan has been called out for lacking proper technique himself and not having clean lines when he should be the teacher and the master of technique.”
“He has also been told he can step it up with his choreography and challenge his partner more.
“It doesn’t mean they won’t be back next season. But they’re the two producers are keeping the closest eye on,” they added.
Rylee first joined DWTS as a pro in 2023 when she made her debut with reality star Harry Jowsey.
Harry, 28, suffered from heavy criticism all season and was even compared to being a “tree trunk” that Rylee “danced around” due to his lack of movement.
Dancing With the Stars airs on Tuesdays at 8 pm EST on ABC and is available to stream the following day on Hulu and Disney+.
Kevin Clifton opens up on Strictly host rumours after he and partner Stacey Dooley tipped to replace Claudia and Tess liennhi
FORMER Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton has broken his silence after he and partner Stacey Dooley were tipped for the show’s hosting roles.
The Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman, 53, alongside her Strictly sidekick Tess Daly, 56, announced their plans to step down from their iconic BBC telly role on Thursday.
During Saturday’s live episode, the duo got teary as they opened the first show since announcing they were quitting at the end of the series.
The two made history as primetime television’s first female presenting duo when they paired up to co-host the show in 2014.
Both had been part of Strictly since 2004, Tess hosting the main show with Bruce Forsyth and Claudia on spin-off It Takes Two.
Last week, all the stars in line to replace Tess and Claudia came to light and, on Monday’s episode of ITV daytime series Good Morning Britain, Grimsby-born Kevin addressed the speculation.
Kevin quit Strictly in 2020 after seven years on the BBC series as a show pro.
This came two years after he scooped the Glitter Ball trophy with partner and baby-momma Stacey.
After GMB anchors Ed Balls and Charlotte Hawkins told how he was a name in the frame, he said: “Stace would be amazing.
“But we have had no conversations about it.”
Yet the pair are no strangers to working together, and are currently starring in the stage version of 2:22 A Ghost Story.
Presenter Stacey’s odds are currently 2/1 and considering the BBC are looking for two hosts, Kevin could well be a great choice to join his ladylove.
Meanwhile, drag queen La Voix threw her name in the frame for the job on Saturday’s live Strictly show.
Other suggestions include Holly Willoughby and Zoe Ball.
EXIT LOWDOWN
It comes after The Sun revealed the real reason behind Tess and Claud’s shock departure.
BBC bosses are said to have been blindsided by their departure, with only a small number of people in the TV industry made aware of their intentions.
All your Strictly Come Dancing winners
Strictly first kicked off back in 2004, and over the years has crowned 21 winners.
Here is a full list of who has been lucky enough to win the famous Glitterball Trophy:
- 2004 – Natasha Kaplinsky
- 2004 – Jill Halfpenny
- 2005 – Darren Gough
- 2006 – Mark Ramprakash
- 2007 – Alesha Dixon
- 2008 – Tom Chambers
- 2009 – Chris Hollins
- 2010 – Kara Tointon
- 2011 – Harry Judd
- 2012 – Louis Smith
- 2013 – Abbey Clancy
- 2014 – Caroline Flack
- 2015 – Jay McGuiness
- 2016 – Ore Oduba
- 2017 – Joe McFadden
- 2018 – Stacey Dooley
- 2019 – Kelvin Fletcher
- 2020 – Bill Bailey
- 2021 – Rose Ayling-Ellis
- 2022 – Hamza Yassin
- 2023 – Ellie Leach
- 2024 – Chris McCausland
It’s understood they secretly filmed the exit video weeks ago — and released it mid-series so as not to overshadow the eventual winner.
Their last show will be on Christmas Day.
A source said: “Claudia and Tess have known they were leaving Strictly since last year. They felt like it was their time to go.
“They discussed this privately and agreed they would walk away together, but kept it firmly under wraps.”
Their exit comes after the BBC show was hit by a string of recent scandals involving its professional dancers and behind-the-scenes conduct.
Plummeting viewing figures and “underwhelming” line-ups even prompted betting giants to offer odds earlier this year on this being the show’s final outing.
EXIT STATEMENTS
In a statement to her fans, Tess said it was “time to say goodbye” and described Strictly as “about joy, celebration, and bringing people together”.
Tess also paid tribute to her co-host, adding: “To my beloved Claud – what an absolute joy and pleasure it has been sharing this adventure with you.
“You’re one of a kind, and I’ll treasure every giggle, every live show, and every backstage moment we’ve shared.”
Claudia called the show “the greatest relationship of my career”.
She said: “Strictly is a magical, glittery, fake-tanned train and it’s been a privilege to be a tiny part of it.
“I’ve always believed it’s best to leave a party before you’re fully ready to go.”
She also remembered legendary judge Len Goodman, saying: “I will never forget Len Goodman trying to teach me what a cucaracha is (I still don’t know.)
“And the complete thrill and honour it was to work with Tess on the results show to cohosting on Saturday nights.
She praised Tess, adding: “As for Tess – I’m so, so lucky I got to stand next to you. You’re funny, kind, whip smart and a true friend and I love you.”
