Strictly Come Dancing backstage 'tension' as two stars 'refusing to be near each other'

Strictly Come Dancing professionals Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington are said to be avoiding each other while on the show after the dancer admitted they are 'not friends'

Two Strictly Come Dancing stars are said to be "doing their best to avoid each other" at the live shows.

Professional dancers Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova are reportedly keeping their distance from each other behind the scenes. The pair split before the start of this year's series of the BBC dance competition after finding love on the show. They had started dating in 2022 and tried to keep their romance away from the spotlight before eventually going public.

It was reported at the time the split was amicable, but claims later emerged that the couple are "no longer on friendly terms". Just last week, Nadiya revealed to the Mirror that the former pair are "not friends". Asked about the break up, Nadiya said: "We work together but we are not friends and that’s okay. One thing I can tell you is that when you see me dancing with him it will be amazing because I’m a professional."

Things have become frosty between Nadiya and Kai on screen as they have been standing on opposite sides of the set during live shows. Every Saturday, the professionals and their celebrity partners gather in the 'Clauditorium' following each performance. Kai and Nadiya have been seen to be keeping their distance as host Claudia Winkleman chats to the stars.

"Although they may have big smiles on their faces when the cameras are running, it's been very tense between them," a source told the Sun. "They refuse to be near each other at all on set- but there's not much room up there with all the professionals. They just have to do their best to avoid each other every weekend."

Nadiya met Kai on the BBC dance competition at the end of 2021, where they fell head over heels for each other. Nadiya, who was previously married to Russian dancer Sergey Konovaltsev, had joined Strictly in 2017, while Kai became part of the cast in 2021. He had previously enjoyed a five-year relationship with professional dancer and fellow Dancing with the Stars professional, Giulia Dotta from 2016 until 2021.

Nadiya and Kai initially tried to keep their relationship on the down-low as it took some time for Nadiya to feel ready to move on with Kai. She was once engaged to footballer Matija Skarabot and share daughter Mila. Nadiya discussed how she introduced her daughter Mila to Kai in an appearance on Loose Women last year.

She said: "It took quite some time, honestly, it's not easy." Gesturing to panelist Judi Love, who has two teenage children, Nadiya said: "As you know you protect your child as much as you can. It took some time but he proved himself in all the possible ways. Mila absolutely adores him."

When asked what the future could hold for the couple and if an engagement was on the cards, Kai once replied: “Listen, what can I say… we are very happy together and we don’t want this to end. Of course we want to be together for life, so we will see where it goes.”

The Mirror has contacted Kai and Nadiya's representatives for comment.

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