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 last April after pictures emerged of them looking cosy on last year’s 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.
Now, a year on, Nadiya and Kai couldn’t be happier after moving in together and Nadiya says they’ve 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.
“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.”
Nadiya – who is going on tour with Kai – also reveals he has grown close to her mum, and over Christmas she posted a series of sweet snaps of Kai with her daughter Mila as they celebrated a festive break together.
“My mum made all my costumes when I was competing as a dancer and she’s making all the costumes for our new show – it’s a family affair.” she reveals.
While this year’s competition saw Kai voted out in week one with TV star Kaye Adams, Nadiya stayed on until week four with singer Matt Goss, who admitted he felt like a “deer in headlights.”
Nadiya’s previous dance partners include BBC presenter Dan Walker, goalkeeper David James, EastEnders star Davood Ghadami and singer Lee Ryan, who was forced to deny romance rumours when the partners were spotted holding hands.
And this year, Nadiya says she can’t wait to join up with her dream partner – Kai – after the couple revealed they begin their dancing tour in April.
“We couldn’t be more excited about working together” she says, adding, “We don’t bicker or argue”, despite living in each other’s pockets for gruelling rehearsals.
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.
Meanwhile Kai split from his girlfriend of five years, Giulia Dotta, just months after joining Strictly in 2021.
Now sources have revealed Kai could be ready to take the next step with Nadiya after their whirlwind romance, saying, “Kai has been looking at engagement rings for Nadiya on the sly and told family and friends that she’s the one.”
