Strictly Come Dancing couple Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington have split after two years together.
The professional dancers, who both compete on the under fire BBC series, have fallen victim to the show’s curse and stresses of touring, according to insiders.
MailOnline can confirm the couple went separate ways following the end of their lucrative tour Behind the Magic, which wrapped in June.
A source revealed their breakup has been ‘amicable’ and the dancers will continue to work together on a professional basis.
Nadiya, 33, who was previously engaged to Slovenian footballer Matija Škarabot, 36, attended Wimbledon last week on her own, while Kai, 28, visited friends and family in the States.
Strictly Come Dancing couple Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington have split after two years together
The professional dancers, who both compete on the under fire BBC show, have fallen victim to the stresses of touring, according to insiders
MailOnline can confirm the couple went separate ways following the end of their lucrative tour Behind the Magic, which wrapped in June
Ukrainian dancer Nadiya was due to attend the Police Bravery Awards alongside Kai on July 11, but he ended up going solo.
Organisers at the bash, which took place at the Royal Lancaster Hotel last Thursday, expected to host Nadiya and Kai as a couple and were surprised when the mother-of-one failed to make an appearance.
A source revealed: ‘Kai and Nadiya were supposed to be the big celebrity names at the event, so organisers were shocked when she pulled out last minute.
‘Her place name was on the table, everybody was expecting her. Kai brought a male pal instead and looked downcast, he wasn’t his usual bubbly self. There was clearly something on his mind.
‘A random guy brought him some tequila shots to his table which he sunk in an attempt to cheer him up. But clearly the split left him feeling incredibly flat.’
Nadiya started dating Kai in 2022 but the couple kept their romance a secret from Strictly fans for months.
Last year, they still lived separately, admitting they found it ‘difficult’ navigating their romance under the watchful gaze of their fan base.
In January 2022, MailOnline revealed that Nadiya had split from fiancé Matija, whom she shares seven-year-old daughter Mila.
The couple’s split comes amid continued scrutiny around Strictly after pro dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima were sacked from the show
After wrapping the 2023 series of the BBC One show, the pair headed out on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour before travelling the country with Behind the Magic
MailOnline understands the couple’s breakup has been ‘amicable’ and they will continue to work together on a professional basis (pictured in February 2024)
Graziano was axed from the show last week over reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott during last year’s series
A friend close to the couple told The Sun: ‘It’s heartbreaking. Kai and Nadiya seemed like the most perfect couple and have been so, so blissfully in love.
‘But the pressures of touring – being in each other’s space 24/7, and the stress of performing a sell-out show eventually took its toll.
‘After a tough few weeks, they sat down together and decided to call it quits. They remain incredibly close and are determined their split will not have any impact on the next series of Strictly – they remain consummate professionals, and nothing will change that.’
The pair’s romance started after Kai had a rumoured fling with his former celebrity partner AJ Odudu, which was the same Strictly season Nadiya danced with ex-BBC presenter Dan Walker.
They share an English Bulldog Snoopy while Kai has previously gushed about his close relationship with Nadiya’s daughter.
In February, Kai explained how it was ‘very important he got it right’ with Mila, who he described as ‘one of the cleverest little girls he’d ever met.’
Kai revealed the new nickname that she has for him, which he said has changed since he last appeared on the show.
He said: ‘She has a new nickname for me – I remember last time I was on the show, it was Kai Lemon Pie, but now it’s Kai Cotton Candy Pie for 2024.’
It’s been a busy few months for the pair, who after wrapping the 2023 series of the BBC One show headed out on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour before travelling the country with Behind the Magic.
They have both been announced in the 2024 line up for Strictly, which has come under fire in recent weeks amid claims of misconduct behind the scenes.
Nadiya, who was previously engaged to Slovenian footballer Matija Skarabot, attended Wimbledon last week on her own, while Kai visited friends and family in the States
They share an English Bulldog Snoopy together while Kai has previously gushed about his close relationship with Nadiya’s seven-year-old daughter Mila
On Tuesday it was revealed that a third professional dancer on the show has been named as a ‘person of interest’ in the wake of the abuse and bullying allegations.
Graziano Di Prima, 30, was axed from the show last week over reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, 27, during last year’s series.
Zara broke her silence this week, writing in a statement on Instagram she had ‘wrestled with the fear’ of going public.
She said: ‘I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming. But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I’ve gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.’
It came just weeks after Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended while a BBC probe is conducted over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celeb partners.
Following Graziano’s sacking, the Italian dancer has fled the UK and is now working on a remote vineyard in his native Sicily.
Graziano is ‘digging ditches and clearing wood’ according to pals in a bid to ignore the ‘noise’ sparked by his shock departure.
