Nadiya Bychkova Breaks Silence on Emotional Strictly Come Dancing Exit
Nadiya Bychkova, the professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, took to social media to share her feelings following her and Olympic swimmer Tom Dean’s unexpected early exit from the competition. The pair became the first couple to be eliminated during the results show on Sunday night (September 29), after a dance-off against Toyah Wilcox and Neil Jones.
Both couples performed their routines again, with Tom and Nadiya dancing their Cha Cha to Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind and Fire, while Toyah and Neil delivered their Jive to Nutbush City Limits by Ike and Tina Turner. After their second performances, the judges delivered their verdicts. Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse both chose to save Toyah and Neil, while Anton Du Beke opted to save Tom and Nadiya. With two votes for Toyah and Neil, Head Judge Shirley Ballas had the final say and also chose to save Toyah and Neil, sealing Tom and Nadiya’s fate.
After initially saying she wasn’t ready to talk about the elimination, Nadiya shared her thoughts with fans a few hours later. Posting a heartfelt message on Instagram, she reflected on her time with Tom, sharing a selfie from the ballroom. “Tom had so much to give and I had so much I wanted to teach him,” she wrote. “His improvement in the last 2 weeks has been incredible, and I think, actually I know, he could have become a brilliant dancer. I’m devastated that you won’t get to see that.”
Despite the disappointment, Nadiya praised Tom for his dedication and grace throughout the competition. “My 3-time Olympic Champion was an amazing student and is a wonderful gentleman. He will go on to bigger and better things,” she added, expressing her belief that he could have had a great journey on Strictly.
Nadiya’s post was met with support from her fellow dancers. JB Gill commented, “You smashed it @nadiyabychkova you’re BOTH golden.” Montell Douglas added, “You’re both CHAMPIONS, always,” while Joahnnes Radebe wrote, “Team golden.”
Though their time on Strictly was cut short, Nadiya’s words made it clear how much she cherished the experience and how proud she is of Tom’s growth.