Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer has responded to fellow professional dancer AJ Pritchard's remarks that the BBC show should prioritize British talent, calling his comments "low." Pritchard, who competed on the show for four series, stated in an interview that it is "really important for a show like Strictly to really benefit the British dancers."
In response, Hauer, who was previously the longest-serving female professional on the show before her departure this year, disagreed with Pritchard's stance. As an immigrant herself, Hauer emphasized the value of diversity, stating, "our world right now is about seeing different things." She also suggested that "maybe there's dancers here in the UK that don't want to join the show, that haven't come forward."
Hauer elaborated on the multifaceted role of a Strictly dancer, noting that beyond dancing ability, professionals must also be skilled teachers and communicators. "You don't just dance on Strictly, you're a coach, you're a therapist, your communication skills have to be very good," she explained. She contrasted Pritchard's remarks with the global nature of other industries, pointing out that when she auditioned for the American version of the show, "Dancing With The Stars," she did not hear Americans advocating for exclusively American talent.
"We're all immigrants, we're all doing the best that we can, and we're all gonna take the opportunities that we can," Hauer added. While she expressed affection for Pritchard, calling him "brilliant" and "very, very talented," she felt his comments were ill-considered.
Other former dancers have also weighed in on Pritchard's comments. Oti Mabuse argued that many of Strictly's most popular professional dancers have not been British, citing examples such as Aljaz Škorjanec, Giovanni Pernice, and Janette Manrara. Mabuse pointed out that dancers like Vito Coppola, Nikita Kuzmin, and Alexis Warr are also not British, and recalled past popular professionals like Vincent Simone, Ola Jordan, Kristina Rihanoff, and Natalie Lowe, none of whom are British.
Pritchard reiterated his position in a subsequent interview, expressing a desire to see more British dancers on the show. "We're in the UK, I'm proud to be British, and there are so many fantastic boys and girls out there who would love the opportunity," he said, adding that it would "support the country that we are proud to be."
Hauer is currently preparing for her first winter without Strictly in 14 years, with plans for pantomime and a theatre show. She is also collaborating with Burns Pet Nutrition to host The Burns Bravery Awards in November, encouraging nominations for deserving dogs.