Nadiya Bychkova has demonstrated that talent runs in the family as her 10-year-old daughter Mila secured several medals at a dance competition. The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 36, took to Instagram on Monday to share multiple photographs of Mila participating in the event held at the InterContinental London at The O2.
Alongside the images, Nadiya posted a video clip of Mila on the dance floor and a snapshot of the pair together, with several medals hanging around her daughter's neck. In her caption, she wrote: 'So proud of my little girl. Another competition weekend, more medals, more memories... and watching her fall in love with dance in her own way is my favourite part of all of this. Keep shining, my Mila.'
Nadiya looked stunning for the occasion, wearing a white blazer and matching trousers paired with open-toe heels. Mila's father is Matija Škarabot, a Slovenian footballer to whom Nadiya was previously engaged before they separated.
The news comes as Strictly viewers have been surprised in recent weeks by the departure of dancers Nadiya, Karen Hauer, 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35. BBC bosses are still searching for new hosts, with only four months remaining before the 24th series is scheduled to begin.
Typically, leaks about celebrity contestants begin to circulate around this time of year, but attention is currently focused on finding replacements for Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who left the flagship show last year. Tess and Claudia announced their departure in October, but six months later, no successor has been confirmed.
After weeks of speculation and several high-profile names declining the role, nine shortlisted stars were invited to a secret location in London to compete in full-scale dress rehearsals with a judging panel and live band. BBC bosses conducted secret auditions and chemistry tests, requiring the celebrities to sign strict NDAs to keep the tryouts confidential.
A source told The Sun: 'It's not just about reading autocue. They'll be looking at how people work together and humour is a massive part of it. There's everything to play for.' The finalists were closely observed, and bosses hope to make a decision soon.
Among those confirmed to have been called back were Rylan Clark, Emma Willis, Tom Allen, podcast host Angela Scanlon, and One Show presenter Alex Jones. Other stars invited to auditions included This Morning host Alison Hammond, The Chase presenter Bradley Walsh, RuPaul's Drag Race star La Voix, and Radio 2's Zoe Ball.
A source added: 'They really want to bring the fun this year. It's all about chemistry who clicks instantly and can keep the energy up live on air. They could stick with two female hosts as that's worked brilliantly. But they're also open to mixing it up. If Rylan and Tom Allen click, that could be a hilarious pairing. Equally, they could even introduce a third presenter to shake things up.'
Bosses are believed to be testing a range of combinations, and nothing is off the table. The Daily Mail has contacted BBC representatives for comment.
