BBC Strictly Come Dancing stars say 'she's back' as familiar face returns to show

Nadiya Bychkova has hinted at a BBC Strictly Come Dancing celebrity partner as she confirmed her return for another series. Nadiya was snubbed last year and went without a pro partner, with many fans left gutted by her omission from the line-up.

"The biggest show on TV is back and I can’t wait to be part of it again @bbcstrictly," Nadiya typed. Angela Scanlon replied: "She's BACK," alongside clapping emojis while Amy Dowden and Gorka Marquez, two of her close pals and fellow BBC Strictly Come Dancing pros, also commented on the announcement with clapping emojis to show their support.

Asked whether she’ll be back on the dancefloor later this year, she told The Sun just three weeks ago: “I think you'll have to wait and see the Strictly announcement.” On pairing partners due to their height, the 6ft tall star answered: "Probably, yes, but that's what producer's do, and it’s probably the other way round.

READ MORE UK tourists warned over taking Ozempic before travelling to Spain, Greece, Portugal

"They need to get the right one because obviously it's the show for them and it's important that celebrities are having the best time and they’re enjoying the experience and learning something new.”

The dancer, who was matched with newsreader Dan Walker in 2021, failed to land a celebrity partner last year. A TV insider said: “At almost 6ft tall in heels, Nadiya is by far the tallest of all the pros. That meant she would have towered over seven out of the eight male celebrities in the competition."

There are currently more female pros that male ones on the line-up this year - with the likes of Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden and Katya Jones returning. Fans believe that a new male dancer will be announced in July.

Other returning dancers include Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal and Johannes Radebe.