Dan Walker is ‘gutted’. For this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, Nadiya Bychkova has not been allocated a partner.
The former BBC Breakfast presenter finished sixth in 2021 with the pro dancer, and he has compared the rejection to Argentina not playing Lionel Messi in a World Cup final.
He lauded the roster for the new season, sharing photographs of them together on Instagram, but confessed he wished Nadiya – who danced with Matt Goss last year – had a greater part to play.
He wrote: ‘Strictly is such an amazing show and it’s almost time for the new series… what a great line-up this year 🎯
‘All the pros are great but gutted to hear that @nadiyabychkova hasn’t got a partner. I’m sure she’s still looking forward to being part of the biggest show on TV but it feels a bit like putting Messi on the bench for the World Cup final! 🤯
‘She is so talented, the best teacher anyone could hope for, a top class lobster and… she’s the Yorkshire Barmaid!’
He went on to say that he and his family are still looking forward to watching, and that they’re ‘all about the A Team’ when it comes to celebrities, supporting Angela Rippon, Angela Scanton, Adam Thomas, Annabel Croft, and Amanda Abbington.
He continued: ‘It is an incredible show to be on and the whole team are amazing. I hope all the celebs enjoy it and we are all about the A Team in our house… the 2 Angela’s, Amanda, Adam and Annabel 🪩 How about you?’
Dan’s remarks on Nadiya’s omission come amid claims that the dancer, who is in a relationship with fellow pro Kai Widdrington, is’seething’ after losing out on a celebrity coupling this year, which means she will only be able to perform in group routines.
A source told The Mirror: ‘Nadiya lives and breathes Strictly, and so to hear that she wouldn’t have a celebrity partner this year was crushing for her. She was both gutted, and very, very angry.’
The insider added: ‘She has come to terms with it over the past few weeks, and will do her best to support Kai during the series. But it was devastating news for her.’
Meanwhile, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will return as hosts, while the judging panel will include Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday, September 16 at 6:35pm.
Source My Celebrity Life.
