Nadiya Bychkova shared a stunning photo of herself in a white bikini on Instagram, seemingly unbothered by the news that she won’t be returning to Strictly Come Dancing this season.
The BBC has removed the 35-year-old professional dancer from the show as part of a major revamp, following recent controversies and the exits of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Nadiya appeared cheerful and confident in a bikini photo taken during her lavish vacation at the Regnum The Crown resort in Turkey, where accommodations cost around £3,000 per night.
She looked amazing in a white bikini with a triangle top and matching bottoms, and she swept her wet blonde hair away from her face.
Nadiya enjoyed a lavish getaway at a five-star resort – the same one Jennifer Lopez has visited – where she relaxed by a stunning waterfall pool and soaked up the sun.
This happened just one day after the celebrity learned she was dropped by the BBC. She celebrated by posting a playful video of herself dancing near a pool.
Nadiya looked radiant in a chic black and white bikini and pants, happily dancing and holding a glass of bubbly to the beat of Bruno Mars’ latest song, ‘Cha Cha Cha’.
The luxurious 5-star hotel has become a popular vacation spot for celebrities. Last summer, stars like Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury, as well as Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash, all spent their holidays there.
During her relaxing getaway, Nadiya prioritized her well-being and marked International Women’s Day by acknowledging the power and perseverance of women.
Today, and always, let’s celebrate women – their strength, happiness, and ability to bounce back, as well as how wonderfully they support each other.
‘And sometimes… a little dance along the way. Happy International Women’s Day’.
On Monday, news emerged that Nadiya was very upset after being eliminated from Strictly, and her friends suggested the show unfairly targeted older dancers in a recent round of eliminations.
Oh my gosh, Nadiya’s been absolutely killing it on Strictly for eight years now! Eight years! I’ve watched her dance with so many amazing celebs – remember Dan Walker? She was incredible with him! And Matt Goss, wow! Then there was Davood Ghadami… honestly, she just makes everyone look good. I’ve followed her journey the whole time, and she’s consistently brilliant with all her partners.
A friend of the 36-year-old dancer has apparently criticized the decision to remove them from the show, and has also expressed disapproval of the BBC.
‘Her axing smacks of ageism,’ a friend reportedly told The Sun.
According to sources, Nadiya is very upset about not returning to the show, as it’s her passion and she’s a fan favorite. She’s struggling to understand the decision.
Meanwhile Neil Jones has missed out on a celeb partner for a fourth year amid the huge shake-up.
Okay, so my friend thinks something really shady is going on. They believe the show is deliberately getting rid of the older, established dancers – the pros we all adore – to bring in a whole new group! It’s awful to think about, but it makes sense… they want ‘fresh blood,’ apparently. I’m honestly devastated by the thought of losing my favorites!
Long-serving pro Gorka Marquez is also out in the cull – as are Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas.
The publication also announced that two additional celebrities won’t be participating in the next season.
I’m absolutely gutted! Apparently, Neil Jones and Nancy Xu – two of my favourite pros – won’t be paired with celebrities this year. They’ve been… dropped! Can you believe it? It’s just awful news, I’m so disappointed for them. They deserve to dance with a celeb every single year!
They might still be involved in group dances, however, unlike Nadiya, Gorka, Luba and Michelle.
The Daily Mail has contacted the BBC and representatives for Nadiya, Neil and Nancy for comment.
Last year Nadiya was partnered with rugby player Chris Robshaw.
She wasn’t invited to join the Strictly Come Dancing live tour this year, and now she’s been informed that she won’t be continuing on the show.
According to friends, the Ukrainian athlete and five-time world champion is understandably upset, but is discussing options to stay involved with Strictly Come Dancing by contributing to the choreography team.
Gorka, a 35-year-old professional dancer, met his fiancée, Gemma Atkinson, while working on the show in 2017. He’s reached the final three times in his ten years on Strictly. Although he didn’t have a celebrity partner last year, he still appeared in the group dances while also filming the Spanish version of the show.
He and Gemma 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, age 30, is also pursuing legal action against her co-star Jamie Borthwick, following incidents last year. Borthwick faced criticism for using offensive language towards someone with a disability while backstage in Blackpool, and was reportedly nicknamed ‘spit roast boy’ by Wynne Evans during a photo opportunity.
As a lifestyle expert, I’m hearing that the team behind the BBC1 show are looking for a bit of a refresh! Tess and Claudia have decided it’s time for them to move on, which means we can expect some exciting new faces to be announced very soon. It’s all about bringing a new energy to the show, and I’m personally thrilled to see what they come up with!
Strictly Come Dancing has faced several controversies recently, including allegations of drug use and mistreatment of contestants by its professional dancers.
Both professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima have left the show. Graziano’s departure followed claims that he mistreated his dance partner, Zara McDermott. Giovanni was also investigated by the BBC after his partner, Amanda Abbington, alleged bullying, and some of those claims were confirmed.
As a lifestyle expert, I want to assure everyone that the recent changes with the Strictly professionals – brought in after Claudia and Tess left – haven’t involved any issues or misconduct. Everything’s above board, and it’s simply a refresh of the team!
Nadiya and her dance partner, Dan Walker, became close while competing on a show in 2021. Dan, who is a devout Christian, was eliminated after performing a lackluster tango during the quarter-finals.
Before leaving Strictly, Dan shared a heartfelt message for his dance partner. He said she had a wonderful impact on his life, describing her as someone who brought joy and positivity into it.
‘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.
Thinking back to the very first time I was asked to dance under the disco balls, I would have immediately left through the fire exit if I’d known where it was.
‘But this amazing woman grabbed me by the hand, and brought me out onto this dance floor.
I don’t consider myself a dancer, but she helped me realize I can dance. It’s been a truly amazing experience for me.
Dan was visibly upset backstage, crying and seeking comfort from Nadiya after the show. Nadiya herself was photographed in tears leaving the studio when their time on the program came to an end. Despite the emotional exit, the two have stayed in touch and remain friends.
Nadiya, known for appearing in a nude photoshoot for Slovenian Playboy in 2015, previously had a relationship with footballer Maria Skarabot, and they share a nine-year-old daughter named Mila.
I was really rooting for AJ and Kai! They seemed so happy together for about two years, but sadly it ended abruptly in 2024. From what I understand, the stress of constantly working together on ‘Strictly’ just became too much for both of them, and they both felt the pressure.
She recently mentioned that dating can be challenging these days, and it really takes time to truly get to know someone.
No matter the situation – whether it’s a friendship, a work relationship, or a romantic connection – I’m choosing to take things at a relaxed pace.
She explained she’s not interested in dating apps, saying they just don’t feel right for her. Recently, she’s been spotted with actor Ian McIntosh.
The BBC said: ‘Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.’
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2026-03-09 22:35