Katya Virshilas’ replacement on Strictly Come Dancing revealed

Following press reports the BBC have announced that as Canadian dancer Katya Virshilas is not to return to the dance contest her replacement will be mambo champion Karen Hauer. The beeb have also apparently revealed their Total Wipeout replacement too.
30-year-old Hauer will be seen on BBC One when the popular Saturday-night entertainment series returns later in 2012.

Speaking about joining the show, Karen says, “If I could dance how I feel about joining Strictly – then you’d be able to see how excited I am.”

Hauer joins Strictly direct from a touring production of Burn The Floor which is described as a theatrical dance spectacular. Born in Venezuela Hauer relocated to New York and became a dance star thanks to television series So You Think You Can Dance USA. She was crowned World Mambo Champion in 2008. Katya Virshilas announced she was to depart the show earlier this week after three years with the programme. She’s currently touring in her own live show.

Katie Taylor controller of entertainment at the corporation says of the new pro-dancer at Strictly, “We welcome Karen to our Strictly family – we’re thrilled to have such a fresh and talented professional join us and I can’t wait to see what she will bring to the ballroom this autumn.”

Strictly Come Dancing is hosted by Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daily and returns to BBC One in the autumn. In other Saturday night entertainment news the BBC are reportedly to replace Total Wipeout with a new series entitled The Ultimate Bodyguard which would see members of the public become celebrity bodyguards after spending time at an instruction academy.