Strictly Come Dancing 'hires' dancer Maddie Ingoldsby, 21, as new professional 11 years after she appeared on show
Maddie demonstrated the waltz on Strictly's spin-offStrictly Come Dancing bosses have ‘signed’ Maddie Ingoldsby as its newest professional dancer, according to reports.
Maddie will be one of the BBC show’s youngest ever pros if she takes to the ballroom this autumn.
The dancer has been competing since the age of 11 and she has a huge social media following on both Instagram and TikTok.
Bosses are said to see her large online fanbase as “hugely important'” as Strictly Come Dancing “moves into a new chapter”.
Maddie also features in a video on Strictly Come Dancing’s official YouTube account. Aged just 10, she and her child dance partner Jamie demonstrated a waltz for fans.
The decision to ‘hire’ her comes after Strictly has axed multiple professionals.
Those culled ahead of this year’s series include Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and 44-year-old Karen Hauer.
Strictly Come Dancing ‘hires Maddie Ingoldsby as new pro’
Last week, Maddie announced she and her male professional partner, Mark Chilcote, are going their separate ways.
The multiple World Champion said: “The final bow to the end of our partnership.
“After the most extraordinary seven years of our lives, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to bring our partnership to an end. Some endings don’t arrive because our passion has faded, they arrive because life asks us to grow in new directions.”
Maddie has also changed her Instagram bio to read: “My life consists of spinning about tbh.” Appearing to give the game away, she has added a glitter ball emoji to the sentiment.
Fans in the dance world have been discussing the reports on Reddit. Many have welcomed the news that Maddie could be joining Strictly.
One said: “Woah massive news if true!! In terms of the competitive ballroom scene anyway. She and partner were potential future finalists, doing so very well.
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“She is an amazing ballroom dancer, also one of the few still doing both ballroom and Latin to a high level.
“I am kind of shocked – thought she’d be rooting for the amateur final. Then again, thought the same about Carlos Gu (also a semi finalist but in latin when he left for Strictly).”
Another added: “She’s an outstanding hire! But choosing Strictly over a current amateur career is an easy choice.”
And a third said: “Must be true, just checked and she and partner posted a splitting up post on insta last week!”
The BBC told TVGuide: “We do not comment on speculation.”
Maddie Ingoldsby’s previous Strictly experience
This won’t be the first time Maddie will have stepped into the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom either.
When she was 11, Maddie also performed with the Strictly troupe. Then a school girl, Maddie and other children joined the pro dancers for a special routine on the show.
She said at the time: “I loved seeing all the pros and celebrities. I met Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman and all the judges. My favourites were dancers AJ Pritchard and Chloe Hewitt.”
Former Strictly professional Chloe Hewitt was the youngest professional to ever work on Strictly when she joined in 2016. She was also 21.
Maddie’s February birthday means she will be slightly older and she will take the title of second youngest ever Strictly pro.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing 2026: Actress Jaime Winstone joins list of names rumoured to be taking part
