Strictly pro Nadiya Bychkova has been dropped from the show as the BBC tries to ‘completely refresh’ it after scandals and the departure of presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Glamorous Nadiya, 35, had been in Strictly Come Dancing for eight years and in that time partnered celebrities including TV presenter Dan Walker, singer Matt Goss and actor Davood Ghadami.
Last year she was partnered with rugby player Chris Robshaw.
But she wasn’t asked to be a part of the Strictly Live tour this year and has now been told that her time on the dancefloor is over.
Friends say that the Ukrainian five times World Champion is naturally ‘very disappointed’ but is in talks over the possibility of remaining a part of the Strictly family by working behind the scenes on choreography.
Long-serving pro Gorka Marquez is also out in the cull – as are Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Gorka, 35, met his British fiancé Gemma Atkinson on the show in 2017 and has been in three finals during his decade on Strictly. He didn’t have a partner last year because he was also filming the Spanish version of the show, but was in the group numbers.
He and Atkinson have a successful podcast together – and two young children.
Luba Mushtuk joined eight years ago but didn’t have a partner last year.
Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, has also gone after partnering actor Jamie Borthwick last year. Borthwick was at the centre of two controversies over behaviour last year, using an ableist slur backstage in Blackpool. He was also allegedly referred to as ‘spit roast boy’ by Wynne Evans during a photocall.
Producers are said to want a ‘fresh start’ for the BBC1 show, with new presenters to be announced soon after Tess and Claudia decided it was time for them to go.
Strictly has been hit by a string of scandals including claims of drug taking and abusive behaviour towards contestants by pro dancers.
Pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima both left the show, with Graziano going after allegations that he had stamped on his partner Zara McDermott. Pernice was investigated by the BBC over bullying allegations made by his partner Amanda Abbington, some of which were upheld.
There is no suggestion that any of the pros going as part of the Strictly refresh in the wake of the Departure of Winkleman and Daly have been involved in any wrongdoing.
Nadiya bonded with her married dance partner Dan Walker when they were partnered together in 2021. Walker, known for his strong Christian faith, was voted off the show after a tepid tango in the quarter finals.
Before he departed Strictly, Dan paid an intense tribute to her saying: ‘I want to mention this amazing woman next to me.There are some people who walk into your life and turn some lights on, and that’s what she has done to me.
‘You’re an amazing person, and if you’ll have me, you’ll have a friend for life Nadiya Bychkova.’
He added: ‘The last 11 weeks have been absolutely amazing, I’ve genuinely loved every second of it.
‘When I go back to the first day when I was asked to dance in front of some glitter balls, at that point, if there had been a fire exit, I’d have just walked away.
‘But this amazing woman grabbed me by the hand, and brought me out onto this dance floor.
‘I’m not a dancer, but she showed me that I can dance, and that for me, this has been an absolutely incredible experience.’
Dan was later seen backstage weeping on Nadiya’s shoulder as she comforted him. And she was pictured being driven away from Elstree studios in floods of tears after their fairytale run on the show ended. They have remained friends.
Ms Bychkova, who posed nude for Slovenian Playboy in 2015, previously dated footballer Maria Skarabot, and they have a daughter Mila, nine together. More recently she dated Strictly pro Kai Widdrington, but that ended suddenly in 2024 after around two years. Both blamed the pressure of working together.
Earlier this year she said: ‘In general, nowadays it’s difficult to date, and it takes time to get to know a person.
‘It doesn’t matter if you’re on TV or not, whether it’s a friendship, a business partner or a relationship or whatever it may be, I’m just taking things slow.’
She went on to explain that she has ruled out dating apps and confessed: ‘I don’t think they are for me.’ She has recently been seen with stage actor Ian McIntosh.
The BBC said: ‘Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.’
