Strictly fans spot signs ‘beaten down’ pro will QUIT ahead of next series

STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have been busy speculating over the futures of this year's professionals.

There's always intense scrutiny of the pro line-up as bosses chop and change to keep the show feeling fresh.

This year saw the bumper addition of four talented pros: Carlos Gu, Vito Coppola, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkis.

Carlos and Vito have been particularly successful, making it to the quarter-final with Molly Rainford and Fleur East, respectively.

Despite reaching the latter stages of the series, some worried viewers fear they might not return after being "beaten down" by the judges over the course of the series.

Writing in a fan forum, one said: "I'm not sure about Carlos weirdly I don't know if I see him coming back next year or if he does I don't think he'll have a partner."

Another said: "I hate to say it because I really like Carlos, but I kinda agree. This season, he has been beaten down so much by all of the comments and dance-offs, to the point where it sometimes seems like he is dreads the end of every performance because he knows that he and Molly will almost certainly get it rough however well they do."

They added: "I would say the same for Vito because it has been the same for him and Fleur."

Others claimed Giovanni Pernice looked "zoned out" while partnered with Richie Anderson and worried his time could be coming to an end just a year after he lifted the Glitterball with Rose Ayling-Ellis.

Questions were raised about Karen Hauer's future after major life changes away from the ballroom.

One wrote: "Karen she’s been there a while now. She was quite badly injured earlier this year and has moved to the countryside up north with her husband."

Fringe players Neil Jones and Luba Mushtuk also cropped up with viewers making a point of their limited screen time.

One said: "Neil and Luba as neither have really done much apart from sit on the sidelines. Maybe they might stay on in a choreography position rather than a pro. Neil also has age against him. There’s much better younger dancers now."