Strictly Come Dancing has been accused of ageism following reports that professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova has been dropped from the show. The 36-year-old Ukrainian dancer is said to be 'devastated' after learning she will not return for the next series.
According to reports, Nadiya is one of four professionals being axed as part of a major shake-up behind the scenes. The others are Gorka Marquez, 35, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Michelle Tsiakkas, 30. Neil Jones and Nancy Xu are also expected to be without celebrity partners this year, though they may still appear in group dances.
A source told The Sun that the decision to remove Nadiya was an 'out with the old, in with the new' approach, claiming her age played a role. 'Her axing smacks of ageism,' the source said. 'They're clearing all the old crew out to make way for new dancers.' The source added that Nadiya is hugely popular with fans and 'can't understand why she won't be back'.
Nadiya joined Strictly in 2017 and has been partnered with celebrities including Davood Ghadami, Dan Walker, and Tom Dean. In 2025, she was hospitalised after a back injury from a fall during rehearsals, and she also broke her thumb in 2024 while practising a group dance.
The show is facing a significant overhaul ahead of the 2026 series, with long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepping down after the 2025 series. Strictly has also dealt with several scandals in recent years, including allegations of bullying against Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, both of whom left the show.
A BBC spokesperson said plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 would be confirmed 'in due course'.
