The former Strictly Come Dancing pro opens up ahead of this year’s new season and how she really feels after her surprise exit.
While we may be in the midst of a heatwave, it won’t be long before summer begins to wind down and the Strictly Come Dancing season is upon us once again. Some contestants have already been announced, with Delta Goodrem, Dani Dyer and Will Best among those preparing to take to the dance floor.
Following the shock departures of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the show is also welcoming a new presenting line-up, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and former professional dancer Johannes Radebe stepping into the roles.
But the changes don’t stop there. Earlier this year, it was announced that five professional dancers would be leaving the show, including Nadiya Bychkova.
The Ukraine-born world champion joined Strictly nine years ago, but in an exclusive interview with our online casino team, she opens up on why she feels so excited about life after Strictly, the secrets behind the show’s success, and what Johannes will bring to the role that his predecessors couldn’t.
What was your initial reaction to leaving Strictly?
I feel fine now and I felt fine then. I’m grateful to have done the show because, obviously, when I started it, I didn’t really know what to expect. I was coming off winning the world championship, and I’d been competing all my life. So it was interesting to try something new, because I was always very creative, not just competitive, in dancing. But I gave the show almost a decade and it meant not being able to say yes to other opportunities. I feel it’s time for a new chapter.
Do you think it will hit you harder when the new season starts to air?
Ask me when it’s on TV, ha! But I will absolutely tune in. I love the show, my family loves the show, and watching it on a Sunday night has long been our routine. I made great friends on the show, and I’m so proud of the pros.
What was it really like behind the scenes?
I’d have friends come and visit me on set and watch the show from the audience. I’d always tell them how much of a family atmosphere there is backstage, and I’m not sure they believed me. But whenever they came, they always commented on it and seemed surprised by how well everyone got along. It’s an intense environment and there are nerves, but it’s a great cast and crew.
What was Strictly’s reasoning for getting rid of so many well-loved pros?
You’re better off asking the producers and the big bosses. I think it’s just a normal part of life. It’s not about a shake-up, it’s simply about moving on. We all have other things we want to do, and the show goes on as well. It’s just the way things have aligned and where they’re going. For me, it’s a natural evolution.
Of the judges, who is the most different off screen?
They’re all great and we do get on. Anton (Du Beke) used to be on the show as a dancer, Motsi (Mobuse) and I danced professionally together and I’ve known Shirley (Ballas) for years. Craig (Revel Horwood) may get a bad rep, but he’s a lovely guy. Most of the time the criticism of the dances is constructive and given to help the celebrities improve.
Do you think the new set of hosts have what it takes to keep Strictly a primetime favourite?
I’m really excited for them all! I’m so excited for Johannes (Radebe) to be in that role. I absolutely love him, and he deserves the world. He’s worked so hard throughout his career. I remember when he first joined the show and didn’t have a partner in his first year. We all know he’s an incredible dancer, but he’s also an incredible human being.
I genuinely can’t wait to see him shine. I think it’s amazing to have someone in that role who is a professional dancer. Obviously, all the presenters are fantastic, but having someone who understands everything inside out from a dancer’s perspective is such a lovely addition.
How did you feel when Claudia and Tess announced their departure?
We’re all going to miss them. They’re iconic, and when I joined the show, they were already there, so they’re everything I’ve ever known. I think they’re amazing. But, as I said, life goes on. We all have new things coming our way, and sometimes change is needed, in the best possible way.
How would you describe those early weeks of the competition?
All the weeks are crazy, in the nicest possible way. It’s a lot, and you probably can’t appreciate just how much unless you’re in it. It’s full-on. For us, we know the drill and how it all works, but it’s a huge amount for someone who’s never danced before. They have to learn new choreography, a new dance, and take in everything else as well. It’s full-on throughout, not just in the early weeks.
Everyone makes a huge deal about getting to Blackpool. Why is it so amazing?
It’s a milestone to reach it. I danced at the Blackpool Tower for my very first competition in the UK when I was 10 years old, so it’s a place you dream of performing in. The fact that Strictly has made it such a special event, where people get to see it, and celebrities get to experience dancing on that famous bouncy floor, is incredible.
Anything you don’t like about the Blackpool stage?
The logistics of the bouncy floor take some getting used to. Until you’re either in the audience or actually dancing on it, you don’t realise just how much the floor moves. As long as you’re in time with everyone, you’re fine, but if you’re not, it can be a challenge. So you hope by that point your celebrity has learned the timing, especially for dances like a jive or quickstep! The other challenge is the set has to be built within hours because everything is moved there, and there isn’t much space for changing rooms and everything else, so it gets very cosy. But that’s part of what makes it special. The whole show builds towards Blackpool week, and everyone looks forward to it. Travelling there together and experiencing it as a group is brilliant.
What have you been up to since leaving the show?
I’ve been touring with a show called Jukebox Idols this summer, which is me, The Overtones, and Louis Smith. It was a beautiful collaboration. It was something completely different from anything I’ve done before, and probably different from what the audience expected. We had four incredible singers performing everything you could imagine. It started with the idea of ’50s and ’60s songs, but it developed into modern music as well, and it was just really special. People absolutely loved it. Then I joined Nikita Kuzmin for the last two weeks of his Supernova tour. He started in June, but my first show was this week, so I only had about three hours to learn the show and rehearse it with Nikita and the cast. It was crazy, but it was great. I’m finishing this week and next week with him, and it’s been absolutely lovely. Obviously, being fellow Ukrainians, we have that connection, and there are some gorgeous dancers involved, including another Ukrainian dancer, Anna.
What career ambitions do you have for the future now you’ve left Strictly?
I’m definitely moving more into the creative side of things, with choreographing, producing shows, and developing my own ideas. I love collaborating, and I have a collaboration coming up with one of the orchestras in the UK to create a show combining music and dance in a way I haven’t seen done before. I’m really excited about that.
Having more time now also means I can explore acting. I did a film last year for Japanese Netflix, which I really enjoyed, and it inspired me to keep developing that skill.
There are also some TV projects coming up that I can’t talk about yet, but they are things I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a very creative future for me.
