Strictly’s Nadiya Bychkova: her age, celebrity dance partner and relationship with Kai Widdrington

She's back on Strictly for another year

nadiya

by Nathan Katnoria |
Updated on

If you’ve been a Strictly fan for a while, then the name Nadiya Bychkova will no doubt be familiar to you.

Nadiya joined the show as a professional dancer in 2017 and has danced with the likes of Matt Goss, former EastEnders actor Davood Ghadami and Blue singer Lee Ryan, although she was left without a celebrity partner last year on Strictly 2023.

Luckily for Nadiya fans, she was paired up with Olympic swimmer Tom Dean on Strictly 2024, unluckily for Nadiya fans, the Ukrainian dancer and Tom were the first to be eliminated.

Nadiya Bychkova
Nadiya is returning to Strictly once again ©IMAGO/Capital Pictures

Who is Nadiya Bychkova?

Nadiya is a professional dancer, best known for appearing on Strictly Come Dancing since 2017. She's also a multiple-time Slovenian Ballroom and Latin champion and two-time World and European Champion in 10 Dance.

How old is Nadiya Bychkova?

Born on 24 August 1989, Nadiya is currently 35 years old.

Nadiya Bychkova
Nadiya rose to fame on Strictly ©IMAGO/FAMOUS

Where is Nadiya Bychkova from?

Nadiya is from Ukraine.

Who is Nadiya Bychkova's celebrity dance partner?

Nadiya was matched with olympian Tom Dean for Strictly 2024, sadly the two were the first to be sent packing.

Nadiya Bychkova and Tom Dean
Nadiya is dancing with Tom on this year's Strictly ©BBC/Ray Burmiston

How did Nadiya Bychkova injure herself?

Ahead of Saturdays show (2 November) it has been announced that Nadiya broke her thumb in a 'freak accident.'

'Nadiya was training with the other pros when she fell. Her thumb basically snapped and it looked incredibly painful,' a sourced told The Sun.

But being the dancing pro that she is, Nadiya will still be taking part in the show on the weekend because what is broken limb to professional dancer?

What happened between Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington?

After months of swirling rumours that their sizzling chemistry and close friendship had blossomed into a romance, Strictly Come Dancing professionals Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington finally revealed they were a couple in April 2022 after pictures emerged of them looking cosy on the Strictly tour.

At the time, Nadiya, 33, had been split from her fiancé and the father of her six-year-old daughter, Slovenian footballer Matija Škarabot, for just a few months after struggling to make their long-distance relationship work, and insiders revealed how Kai, 27, had been a shoulder to cry on.

A year later, Nadiya and Kai moved in together and even expanded their brood. 'We bought a British bulldog puppy in October and it’s like our little baby! We feel very settled,' she told Closer last year.

Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington
Nadiya and Kai dated for two years ©IMAGO/Capital Pictures

She added, 'They say that you should never work with your partner, but we don’t get to spend that much time together so we just really enjoy it! He’s my best friend.'

However, it was reported that Nadiya and Kai split at the end of June after 'emotionally drifting away' from each other.

Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington
The Strictly pros split in June ©IMAGO/Matrix

A source told The Sun, 'It’s heartbreaking. Kai and Nadiya seemed like the most perfect couple and have been so, so blissfully in love. But the pressures of touring - being in each other’s space 24/7, and the stress of performing a sell-out show eventually took its toll.'

Nadiya was previously married to fellow dancer, Sergey Konovaltsev, for two years until 2015, before having her daughter with Matija the following year. They got engaged in 2020, before calling it off in January 2022.

What is Nadiya Bychkova's Instagram?

You can find Nadiya on Instagram at @nadiyabychkova.

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