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Nadiya-Strictly: Bychkova Clarifies 'Experienced Celebrity' Comments After Dance-Off Drama Professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova has issued a statement addressing claims she "slammed" contestants with prior training, following a challenging second week in the current series of Strictly Come Dancing. The Ukrainian World Champion, who is partnered with former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw, spoke out after the pair faced the first dance-off of the season, reigniting the perennial debate over the professional experience level of the show’s celebrity participants. The latest season of the BBC’s flagship Saturday night programme has been marked by strong early performances from several contestants with performing arts backgrounds. This competitive environment was amplified when Bychkova and Robshaw, who has no previous dance training, found themselves in the bottom two in the first elimination results show of the series. The pair, having performed a Viennese Waltz, were ultimately saved unanimously by the judging panel—Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke—over former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner and his partner Amy Dowden. However, the experience of being under the "dreaded red light" of the dance-off prompted a strong reaction from both the celebrity and his professional partner. Former rugby star Chris Robshaw took to social media to reflect on the high stakes of the competition, describing the process as giving him "purpose" following his retirement from professional sport, but also sharing his distress at the prospect of disappointing his partner. The situation was further scrutinised after reports surfaced quoting Bychkova’s comments regarding the fairness of the competition structure.
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Speaking prior to the results show, the professional dancer expressed her regret that inexperienced dancers often exit the competition prematurely. “It's really sad as there's so much talent,” Bychkova was quoted as saying, emphasising that Strictly caters to "people who have never danced" and that prior performance experience "helps a lot. " She suggested that the audience often misses the full growth journey of those without training because they sometimes "leave the show earlier. " While these comments were interpreted in some quarters as a criticism of the show’s casting or an attack on experienced celebrities, Bychkova moved swiftly to offer clarification, insisting that her remarks had been "twisted" by certain media outlets. In a comprehensive post on Instagram, she publicly addressed the "stories in the papers" that suggested she had "criticised producers" or "waded into a row over trained celebrities. " “To be perfectly clear, I haven't,” Bychkova wrote. “I love the fact that Strictly is for people of all abilities and one of my great joys in life is teaching people to dance. ” She reaffirmed her belief in the show’s core mission, stating: “It's great to have celebrities with some experience on the show and it's also beautiful to see how people like Chris, who have never danced and performed before, improve.
That is what Strictly is all about and that is why it is loved by millions of people. ” This clarification was met with swift support from her colleagues and current contestants. Musical theatre actress Amber Davies, one of the higher-scoring celebrities this season, commented, calling Bychkova "the most gracious and kindest woman" she had ever met. Co-host Tess Daly also offered public support. The dancer’s tenure on the show, which began in 2017, has often positioned her as a popular partner for contestants embarking on an entirely new challenge. Her previous celebrity pairings include former professional footballer David James and, most notably, broadcaster Dan Walker, with whom she reached the quarter-finals in 2021, an achievement often cited as one of the show’s most surprising success stories of that year. Known for her dedicated coaching style, Bychkova, who is a two-time World and European '10' Dance Champion, is viewed by industry analysts as one of the BBC’s key teaching professionals, capable of mentoring those with limited natural ability to considerable progress. Her commitment to the series was underscored by a recent accident; earlier in the year, she revealed she was taken to hospital by ambulance after suffering a severe fall during group rehearsals but was back dancing within a week, demonstrating her professional resilience.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s Movie Week special, the focus shifts back to the creative and technical demands of the competition. Bychkova and Robshaw are scheduled to perform the Paso Doble, a physically demanding dance, to a soundtrack inspired by a major film franchise. The current atmosphere surrounding the partnership encapsulates a core tension within the popular BBC format: the balance between highly competitive celebrity talent and the journey of genuinely inexperienced amateurs. As the series moves forward, Nadiya Bychkova remains central to this narrative, navigating the pressures of the dance-off and the public dialogue surrounding the nature of celebrity competition. Her ongoing involvement underscores her role not just as a dancer, but as a public figure defining the show’s spirit of transformation. In addition to her weekly training commitments, Bychkova has continued her successful stage career, teaming up with fellow Strictly professional Kai Widdrington for a new dance tour. The tour offers audiences a behind-the-scenes look at their lives in show business, providing further context to her dedication to ballroom and Latin dance.
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