MYSTERY still surrounds the future of Karen Hardy and this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

The former champion from Bournemouth is one of several professional dancers who reportedly haven’t signed new contracts.

The star dancers are unhappy that their £30,000 fee could be cut, according to the News of the World.

Karen, 39, won the show in 2006 with cricketer Mark Ramprakash.

But her future has hung in the balance since last year when her frustrations with dance partner Gary Rhodes led her to consider quitting.

She said at the time: “I’m hanging my shoes up. It is a possibility this series is my last.”

The hit show has already slashed the £660,000 wages of veteran presenter Bruce Forsyth by a quarter.

And Hardy, a former world ballroom dancing champion, is currently working on “many exciting projects” including her new studio in Chelsea as well as personal appearances and charity work.

Her management, Fireball Ltd, said: “Karen is out of the country on holiday at the moment and we have no comment to make on the reports.”

However, she has previously said: “I’ve a life outside the show: I run a dance studio, and I’ve had to put my competing students on hold while I do Strictly. I always say it is my selfish indulgence.’”

Only two professional dancers, Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova, have reportedly signed up to the 14-week series ahead of its launch next month.

A BBC spokesman said: “We cannot confirm anything regarding the line-up about the next series of Strictly but we will be revealing the full line-up at the Strictly Come Dancing launch.”

Hardy, who has overcome three bouts of ear cancer, first started dancing as a little girl at Boscombe’s Nice ’n’ Easy Dance Studios.

She went on to win numerous professional titles and retired in 1999 before being lured back into action by judge Len Goodman.