Nadiya Bychkova is reportedly in advanced talks to star on the upcoming series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here after being axed from Strictly Come Dancing. The Ukrainian professional dancer, 36, is said to have impressed ITV bosses and is at the top of their wish list for the jungle this year.
Insider Reveals Offers Are Flooding In
A television insider told The Sun: 'Nadiya has always been on the radar but has been unable to take part because of her commitment to Strictly. Now she's a free agent, the offers have been coming in thick and fast. She's had a number of chats about doing the jungle. Bosses are so impressed with her it's even been suggested she turns down other shows.'
The Daily Mail has contacted ITV and Nadiya's representatives for comment.
Nadiya's Strictly Journey Ends After Nine Years
After nine years on the show, partnering with celebrities including Dan Walker and Davood Ghadami, Nadiya shared the news of her exit on Instagram in March, voicing her gratitude for everyone who had supported her. She wrote: 'After nine wonderful years, this part of my journey with Strictly Come Dancing is evolving. There is something truly special about being part of a programme that plays such a big part in so many people's lives, and I want to thank all those who have sent beautiful messages over the last few weeks and those who have voted, shouted, supported, celebrated and cheered during every series. Strictly has allowed me to discover new sides of myself, develop new skills, and evolve as an artist in ways I will always be grateful for. This isn't the end... I look forward to being part of the Strictly world for many years to come in ways I am beginning to explore.'
As she was flooded with supportive messages from her followers, Tess Daly led the gushing comments, writing: 'Love you to bits. Beautiful inside and out.'
BBC Statement Confirms Nadiya's Departure
In a statement confirming Nadiya's exit, the BBC said: 'We would like to say a huge thank you to Nadiya Bychkova for her incredible contribution to Strictly Come Dancing. Since joining the show nine years ago, Nadiya has brought elegance, artistry and unwavering dedication to the ballroom, and she will always remain a cherished member of the Strictly family. Over the years, Nadiya has delivered countless memorable performances, showcasing not only her exceptional talents as a dancer and choreographer but also her brilliance as a teacher to all her celebrity partners. A consummate professional, Nadiya embodies the very best of what Strictly stands for. We are deeply grateful for everything she has given to the show and wish her every success for the future.'
Multiple Professionals Axed This Year
Nadiya was just one of a slew of professionals to be given the boot this year, joining Karen Hauer, 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35. The dancers that will be back in the ballroom later this year include Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Alexis Warr and Vito Coppola. Also set to return are Nancy Xu, Katya Jones, Julian Caillon, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, Kai Widdrington and Lauren Oakley.
Bosses have revealed that there will be brand new professional dancers joining the line-up in 2026, while judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas are also set to return.
New Hosts Expected Soon
While the announcement of the new hosts of the flagship BBC show is expected any day now, on the back of months of relentless speculation about Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly's replacements. According to reports, Emma Willis, 50, is set to get one of the presenting roles, after she was said to have sailed through the auditions and nailed the chemistry tests. She is well versed in Saturday night telly, having raised viewing figures on The Voice UK by two million when she took over from Holly Willoughby in 2014. While she's also honed her live presenting skills on reality telly juggernaut Big Brother and via her stand-in stints on This Morning. Crucially, Emma appeals to the younger demographic which Strictly has been desperate to tap into for years, boasting two million Instagram followers, thanks in part to presenting the likes of Netflix's Love Is Blind UK.
Previous frontrunner Zoe Ball broke the news last week that she had lost out on the coveted job, admitting that she is 'working through the seven stages of grief and rejection'. Other names thrown into the mix to take over include Rylan Clark, Alison Hammond, Tom Allen and Alex Jones.
