Ukrainian dancer Nadiya Bychkova made a surprise appearance as a guest panelist on the BBC spin-off It Takes Two this past Friday. The 37-year-old, who was removed from the Strictly Come Dancing professional lineup during a March shake-up, joined hosts and fellow guests to discuss the upcmoing Movie Week.
The March shake-up that ended a nine-year Strictly tenure
The sudden removal of Nadiya Bychkova from the Strictly Come Dancing professional roster in March marked a significant turning point for the long-running BBC franchise. This mass shake-up occurred alongside the departures of veteran hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, signaling a period of intense restructuring for the show's format and talent pool. For many viewers, the loss of such a long-standing professional felt like the end of a specific era for the ballroom competition.
For Bychkova, the transition ended a nine-year period as a professional dancer on the program. While the departure initially stunned the audience, her recent appearance on the spin-off show suggests that her relationship with the Strictly brand may not be severed entirely, despite the significant changes to the lineup.
A leather-clad return alongside Kimberley Walsh and Jay McGuinness
Nadiya Bychkova's Friday night appearance on It Takes Two served as a high-profile re-introduction to the Strictly audience. Appearing as a celebrity guest panelist alongside Kimberley Walsh and Jay McGuinness, the Ukrainian dancer provided technical commentary to host Ellie Taylor regarding the contestants' progress ahead of Movie Week.
As the report notes, Bychkova used the platform to offer professional advice to the dancers ahead of their second live show, emphasizing the importance of ballroom comfort. She also took a moment to praise contestant Dani Dyer, noting the dancer's "beautiful lines" and graceful movement. The appearance, in which she wore a black leather minidress, was met with significant warmth from viewers on social media platforms like X, with fans describing her as a "classy lady" and expressing joy at seeing her back within the Strictly family.
Choreography ambitions and the ITV 'I'm A Celebrity' rumors
Bychkova is reportedly exploring a professional evolution that moves her away from the competitive dance floor and toward creative direction. In a conversation with Hello! magazine, she expressed a strong interest in returning to the BBC to choreograph professional numbers, noting that her passion for storytelling through dance remains a primary driver. she admitted to feeling emotional about the end of her tenure as a pro, but framed it as an opening for new opportunities.
However, a move to a rival broadcaster could be imminent. According to the source, Bychkova is currently in advanced talks to join the cast of ITV’s I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here. having reportedly impressed ITV bosses, she has emerged as a top candidate for the reality series, presenting a potential departure from the BBC ecosystem that would mark a major career shift.
Will Bychkova return as a choreographer or an ITV star?
The current landscape of Bychkova's career presents several unverified paths that fans are watching closely. While she has confirmed she is in contact with BBC producers, it remains unclear if this dialogue will result in a formal choreography contract or merely occasional guest appearances. Furthermore, the reports of her "advanced talks" with ITV remain unverified by the broadcaster, leaving the possibility of a major network jump on the table. Whether she chooses to deepen her creative ties with the BBC or embrace the reality TV spotlight on ITV remains the defining question for her next chapter.
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