Another BBC Strictly Come Dancing star struck down by injury in 'freak accident'

A fresh BBC Strictly Come Dancing crisis has emerged - with a pro dancer injuring themselves in a freak accident. BBC pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova, aged 35, fell and landed on her hand on Wednesday (October 30) - breaking a bone in the process.

The Strictly Come Dancing pro Nadiya, who hails from Ukraine, and partner Tom Dean were eliminated from this year's show in September. Nadiya - who split from ex-boyfriend Kai Widdrington, a fellow show pro, earlier this year - was treated at once by on-site medics.

Nadiya will appear in balcony scenes on Saturday night — and has been cleared to continue recording a group dance due to be screened later in the series. Last night a source said: “Nadiya was training with the other pros when she fell.

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“Her thumb basically snapped and it looked incredibly painful." The insider went on, telling the Sun newspaper: “Everyone crowded around her. Nadiya’s thumb was badly swollen and bruised, but she doesn’t want to let anyone down and is adamant she can do the pre-recorded number.

“A doctor eventually cleared her and she will be able to film, but might be treated with kid gloves by fellow pros. Nadiya will be there on Saturday for the live show, too — she’s adamant the show must quite literally go on.” Bychkova, who has danced in the Strictly ballroom since 2017, recently split from fellow pro Widdrington after two years of dating.

The Ukranian 35-year-old began dating Widdrington, 29, during the 2022 series of the hit dancing programme. However, the two-year romance came to an end earlier this year with a seemingly frosty relationship now existing between the two.

There have been reports the two are "refusing" to stand next to one another while being interviewed in the Clauditorium by host Claudia Winkleman.