Nadiya Bychkova breaks her silence on Strictly ‘axe’ and details how her role as pro dancer is ‘evolving’ – as bloodbath of top talent continues

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Nadiya Bychkova has finally spoken out about being removed from Strictly Come Dancing, following recent cuts to the professional dancer lineup.

Viewers of the BBC are surprised and disappointed to see several popular dancers – Nadiya, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, and Gorka Marquez – eliminated in recent weeks.

Nadiya recently shared that her position on the popular BBC show is changing after being a professional dancer for nine years.

After nine amazing years, I’ve decided it’s time for me to move on from Strictly Come Dancing. It feels like the right moment to embrace new adventures, and I’m so grateful for everything the show has given me. It’s been a truly wonderful part of my life, and I’ll cherish the memories forever.

It’s incredibly rewarding to be involved with a show that means so much to so many people. I’m grateful for all the lovely messages I’ve received recently, and for everyone who has watched, voted, and cheered us on throughout every season.

I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me – my collaborators, colleagues, the judges, and the amazing team working behind the scenes.

I came onto the show as a professional athlete—a two-time world champion—and I’ve discovered a lot about myself and others during my time here. I’ve developed not just as a performer, but as a person and an artist, too.

Being on Strictly has helped me grow as an artist, learn new things, and discover hidden talents, and I’m incredibly thankful for the experience.

Nadiya shared that she’s thrilled to continue being involved with ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ for a long time, and she’s currently looking into new opportunities within the show.

This isn’t over for me. I’m excited to stay involved with Strictly Come Dancing in the future, and I’m already thinking about how I can do that.

I’ve grown so much since I started dancing – not just as a performer, but as a person. I truly feel like I’m finally being myself.

I’m really looking forward to dedicating time to new projects and enjoying more quality time with my daughter. I feel optimistic about what the future holds.

I’ve always loved to dance, even before appearing on Strictly. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the show and hope to continue dancing for a long time. I’m so grateful for all the wonderful support I’ve received.

After Nadiya shared her news, the official BBC Strictly Instagram account posted a message of thanks to the Ukrainian ballroom dancer.

We want to express our sincere gratitude to Nadiya Bychkova for all she’s brought to Strictly Come Dancing.

Nadiya has been a wonderful part of Strictly for nine years, bringing grace, skill, and a strong work ethic to the dance floor. She’ll always be considered a beloved member of the show’s family.

Nadiya has consistently given outstanding performances throughout her career, demonstrating her skill as both a dancer and choreographer. She’s also a remarkably gifted teacher, consistently bringing out the best in her celebrity dance partners.

Nadiya is a true professional and represents the heart of Strictly Come Dancing. We’re incredibly thankful for all her contributions to the show and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

It was so lovely to see so much support for Nadiya online! Lots of her friends and fellow cast members – like Amy Dowden, Helen Skelton, Gemma Atkinson, Karen Hauer, and Gorka Marquez – all chimed in with encouraging comments. It really shows the strong community they’ve built, and it’s heartwarming to see them rallying around each other.

Oh my gosh, can you BELIEVE this?! I’ve heard from people in the know that the Strictly bosses are actually looking at how many TikTok followers the professional dancers have when they decide who to kick off the show! It’s insane! They’re basically cutting dancers based on social media popularity, not just their dancing! I’m absolutely fuming! It’s just not fair to the incredibly talented pros who might not be TikTok stars. This whole ‘cull’ feels so wrong now – it’s all about numbers, not artistry!

Okay, so I’m hearing things, and it’s infuriating! Apparently, the people in charge are just picking dancers based on how many followers they have online! It’s like, they’re totally ditching actual talent just to try and get younger people to watch. It’s so frustrating – they’re prioritizing Instagram numbers over everything else! I’m honestly disgusted, it feels like a desperate attempt to stay relevant.

Some people are saying that contestants with large social media followings were favored over more talented dancers who aren’t as popular on TikTok, as the show attempts to appeal to a younger demographic.

Nadiya, who has 19,000 followers, seems to have been removed from the show, while Dianne Buswell, with a much larger following of 966,000, remains a contestant.

Karen, a professional dancer on Strictly for many years, has around 9,000 followers. In comparison, Alexis Warr, who is new to the show, already has a much larger following of 190,000.

According to a source, ‘Strictly’ is constantly trying to grow its viewership, both by reaching more people overall and by appealing to a younger demographic.

According to sources, social media is key to reaching a wider audience, and TikTok is an ideal platform for a show centered around music and dance.

Being popular on TikTok isn’t essential for staying on the team, but it could be what helps someone keep their spot.

Sources say that Fleur East and Janette Manrara have also been let go from It Takes Two, the Strictly Come Dancing companion show.

Sources close to the show reveal that BBC Two’s weeknight program is facing a significant overhaul following recent controversies.

Janette, a former professional dancer on Strictly, became a host in 2021 after eight years as a performer. Pop singer Fleur joined the show in 2023, following a successful run to the final in 2022.

But now both stars are said to be in the firing line as executives push for a bold new direction.

An insider told The Sun that viewers will be shocked to see the show’s dramatic eliminations continue, but the network is committed to making major changes.

People are feeling uneasy, and there’s a strong push to start a new chapter following all the recent difficulties.

The main goal is to start fresh by September and move the show forward, leaving behind the issues it’s faced recently.

According to a source, BBC executives haven’t ruled out Janette and Fleur completely, and they may be considered for different positions within the organization.

Leaders are reportedly planning a complete reset after years of complaints and issues with the show’s professional dancers.

Neil Jones, 43, and Nancy Xu, 34, will both be paired with non-celebrity partners this season, continuing a trend for both dancers who haven’t often been matched with stars on the show.

It’s believed they may still appear in the big group dance numbers.

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2026-03-25 15:49