Aliona Vilani has spoken out about her shock at being axed from Strictly Come Dancing.

The professional dancer, who won the show with Harry Judd in 2011, told the Daily Mirror she had fully expected to be working on this year's Strictly, which is due to start in the autumn.

Four of Strictly Come Dancing's most high-profile professional dancers are to leave their full-time roles as partners to the stars on the BBC1 entertainment show.

Erin Boag, Aliona Vilani, Vincent Simone and last year's winner Flavia Cacace will not be returning to the glitter and glitz of the Strictly ballroom when the series starts again later this year. But while Boag, Simone and Cacace have released statements confirming that they are leaving the prime-time competition to pursue other projects, Vilani has taken to Twitter to tell followers the move was "definitely not my decision."

Four of Strictly Come Dancing's professional dancers are leaving the programme, the BBC has confirmed.

One of them - Erin Boag - has been dancing with celebrity contestants on the show since it began in 2004. A BBC spokeswoman said Boag, along with Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone, were all leaving "to focus on their careers outside of Strictly and for professional reasons".

Strictly Come Dancing duo Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone have been recognised for their toned bottoms - winning this year's Rear of the Year awards.

The pair - the first professional duo to win the annual accolade - were 'delighted' to have their pert bums celebrated and were looking forward to the reactions of their Strictly colleagues. "They'll be devastated. They're going to be so jealous. I can't wait for them to find out," Vincent said.

Sir Bruce Forsyth says he is going to start making a new TV series where he can “have fun” - at the age of 85. The Strictly Come Dancing host says he has plans “up his sleeve” for the entertainment programme as he refuses to slow down or consider semi-retirement.

Speaking at a solo show at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, Greater Manchester, he said: “I’d like to do another show like Play Your Cards Right and Generation Game where you can show your personality and have fun.

Denise Van Outen is set to join 'EastEnders'. The 38-year-old star - who has three-year-old daughter Betsy with husband Lee Mead - has reportedly been in a string of secret meetings with soap bosses, who believe she can save the flagging ratings on the show.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: ''It could be a brilliant casting move.

Louis Smith will be among those featured in the next series of Channel Five's My Secret Past as he reveals his past struggles with ADHD.

The show will feature the Olympic gymnast turned Strictly Come Dancing champion on a personal journey to find out more about the condition, which he was diagnosed with at the age of six.

Sir Bruce Forsyth has signed up for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing. Despite speculation in the press that he would retire, the BBC has announced that he will return again alongside Tess Daly when the show starts again in September.

Claudia Winkleman, who co-hosts the Sunday results show with Tess Daly, will again take his place. However, the 85-year-old host has revealed that he will miss three of the live Saturday shows on BBC One.

Kristina Rihanoff says the 'Strictly Come Dancing' professionals get ''crazy'' on a night out.

The blonde beauty - who was partnered with James Bond actor Colin Salmon on last year's series of the hit BBC competition - has revealed the show's professional dancers like to let their hair down after filming but things can get out of hand quickly.

Bruce Forsyth has admitted he feels well past his sell-by date and his days on Strictly are numbered. But while the 85-year-old presenter refuses to confirm whether he is bowing out of the show entirely, he has plenty to say on who he’d like to replace him.

“So many people have been put in the frame,” he says. “I adore Anton du Beke... he would be great. And Vernon Kay could do the job very well.

Denise Van Outen has furthered sparked speculation that her marriage is on the rocks as she was snapped with an overnight bag yesterday, leaving the home she shares with husband Lee Mead.

The Magic radio presenter was seen getting into a black car looking stoney faced, wearing black jeans, a beige jumper and a black leather jacket.

Sir Bruce Forsyth has made it clear that he is keen to return as host of Strictly Come Dancing – but his future with the show has not been confirmed as yet.

Speaking on This Morning, the veteran presenter explained that meetings were scheduled over the next week, although he hopes that his workload may be scaled back. "I think we’ll come to another arrangement about it, yes. I'm sure we will,"

Having lost her mum Cath to cancer just two weeks before Strictly started last year, Lisa’s pain was still horribly raw.

So as the crowds cheered her memorable dance routine at ­Wembley at the end of November, she just wished that Cath could share the moment along with her dad and ­brother, who were in the audience.

Denise Van Outen has admitted that her and husband Lee Mead are like “ships passing in the night”.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star hit the headlines after she went on holiday alone for the second time this year. It was reported that the pair’s four-year marriage was in difficulty.

Sir Bruce Forsyth has sparked speculation that the "depressing" British weather could force him to quit 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

The TV star, 85, who has hosted BBC One's ballroom dancing competition with Tess Daly since its 2004 launch, said that he would consider living abroad for six months of the year if temperatures continued to plummet.

Strictly Come Dancing star Vincent Simone has spoken of his joy at being told he and his partner are expecting their second child just as they were preparing to start fertility treatment.

The dancer, who already has a three-year-old son Luca with partner Susan Duddy, said he was excited by the news.

Brendan Cole has revealed that he is enjoying the new 'adventure' that comes with being a father. The Strictly Come Dancing star became a dad for the first time when wife Zoe gave birth to their daughter Aurelia in December.

"It's a phenomenal thing. It's a whole world of adventure you don't realise you are in for. Yesterday, I went baby swimming," said the professional dancer.

Sir Bruce Forsyth has admitted that he will be returning to the next series of Strictly Come Dancing but with a reduced role.

The 85-year-old presenter confessed that as he gets older he has struggled to cope with the demands of the show. Speaking on Loose Women, Brucie said: “We've got a meeting [about the show] on Friday.

Miranda Hart has been given another chance to show off her dancing skills after injury prevented her from performing I Had the Time of My Life for Comic Relief.

The funnygirl was chosen to sweep Sir Bruce Forsyth off his feet in a BBC special to mark his 70 years in showbusiness.