Strictly Come Dancing Drops Nadiya Bychkova Over Backstage Behaviour and Relationships
Nadiya Bychkova has been axed from Strictly Come Dancing after falling out of favour with BBC bosses, with insiders citing her relationship with fellow professional dancer Kai Widdrington, backstage tantrums, and her friendship with former contestant Dan Walker as key factors. The Ukrainian-born dancer, 36, was let go as part of a major shake-up for the 2026 series, alongside other professionals including Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakas.
Ageism Claims Dismissed as Insiders Point to Behaviour Issues
Friends of Nadiya Bychkova have suggested her removal "smacks of ageism," but insiders have dismissed these claims as "well wide of the mark." They point to Karen Haur, who is eight years older than Nadiya and has been retained for the 18th consecutive year, as evidence that age is not a deciding factor. Instead, the real reasons for Nadiya's departure are rooted in her conduct away from the dance floor.
Her diva-like outbursts behind the scenes reportedly infuriated co-stars, while her two-year relationship with Kai Widdrington, which ended in a breakup, caused unwanted tension among the professional dancers. Bosses were keen to avoid including exes in the lineup to maintain harmony within the group, and Nadiya's situation did not align with this goal.
Friendship with Dan Walker Draws Unwanted Attention
Additionally, BBC chiefs felt that Nadiya's close friendship with married father-of-three Dan Walker brought unwelcome scrutiny to the show. The pair grew close during the 2021 series, where they finished fifth, and have remained devoted friends since, regularly appearing on each other's social media posts. Their continued connection, including an incident where Dan flew back from a family holiday to attend an awards event with Nadiya, raised eyebrows and made executives uncomfortable.
A show source said, "Nadiya's relationship with Dan still wrangles with many execs, it makes them feel uncomfortable and triggers needless attention. It's not a great look for either of them, but as Nadiya is still connected with the show, she has more to lose by seemingly parading this cosy connection."
Performance Issues and Backstage Reputation
Nadiya is known in Strictly circles to be "uncompromising" behind the scenes. She did not react well to not having a celebrity partner in the 2023 series, believing she was one of the show's most popular stars at the time, and made her dissatisfaction known to all concerned. Although she earned a reprieve in subsequent years, dancing with Team GB swimmer Tom Dean in 2024 and former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw in 2025, her performances were disappointing.
She secured early exits, finishing 15th and 13th respectively, and these poor results did not go unnoticed by bosses. An insider explained, "Strictly is a light entertainment show, but it has to be competitive - otherwise it doesn't work. Execs want the pros to treat the series like a sport and get the best results out of their partners. But Nadiya's last three outings with a celebrity partner haven't pulled up any trees - she hasn't even made the top 10 with any of them."
Fresh Start for Strictly Amid Scandals
The axing of Nadiya and others is part of a broader effort by producers to create a "fresh start" for the 2026 series, following years of scandal that have marred the show. This shake-up also includes new hosts after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down last October. Insiders emphasize that the goal is to freshen things up with new additions while maintaining high standards.
The source added, "It's just a case of freshening things up but adding a few new additions. But what it does prove, if the pros want to remain on the show, they have to be on their best behaviour more than ever." Despite the axing of several dancers in their mid-thirties, insiders note that older dancers are actually more valued by bosses due to their familiarity and ability to adapt to different celebrities each year.
