Ukrainian dancer Nadiya Bychkova has been removed from the Strictly Come Dancing professional lineup following a meeting with BBC executives on Friday, it has been reported.
The 36-year-old, who first appeared on the programme nearly a decade ago in 2017 alongside Amy Dowden and Dianne Buswell, is said to be devastated by the decision.
Nadiya Bychkova was rushed to hospital | PA"Nadiya is distraught. The news came as such a huge shock as Nadiya's life was Strictly and to find out she's not been invited back as full time pro has really broken her heart," a source told The Sun.
Throughout her time on the show, Ms Bychkova partnered celebrities including Dan Walker, Lee Ryan, Matt Goss, Tom Dean, and, most recently, Chris Robshaw in 2025, though she never reached the competition's final.
Chris Robshaw and Nadiya Bychkova were eliminated from BBC Strictly last year
| BBCHer departure forms what is believed to be part of a wider clearout of professional dancers ahead of the 2026 series.
Spanish choreographer Gorka Marquez, 35, Russian dancer Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Cypriot performer Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, have also allegedly been dropped from the lineup.
According to insiders, BBC executives are seeking to overhaul the long-running programme following a turbulent period marked by various controversies.
"Bosses want a fresh start and to bring in new faces after all the drama in recent years and create a new era," a source revealed.
Nadiya Bychkova previously dated fellow Strictly pro Kai Widdrington
|A representative for Ms Bychkova declined to comment when contacted by GB News. A BBC spokesperson said that plans for the 2026 series will be announced in due course.
Elsewhere, Mr Marquez has been a fixture on the BBC programme for nearly a decade, reaching the final on three separate occasions with partners including Maisie Smith, Alexandra Burke, and Helen Skelton.
The 35-year-old also met his partner, actress Gemma Atkinson, when she competed on the show in 2017, with the couple going on to have two children together.
Ms Mushtuk joined the professional troupe eight years ago but has struggled to secure regular celebrity partnerships in recent series, last competing with Nick Knowles in 2024 before being eliminated in week four.
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Gorka Marquez is one of the other dancers said to be leaving
| PAMs Tsiakkas arrived on the programme in 2022 alongside fellow newcomers Vito Coppola, Carlos Gu, and Lauren Oakley.
She received her first celebrity partner in 2024, dancing with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick until their elimination in week 10.
The reported departures are said to have created an unsettling atmosphere among the remaining professional dancers.
"There's a super weird feeling among the rest of the pros now, they're all wondering if they're safe and everyone's nervous," the source claimed.
Luba Mushtuk won't return to Strictly, according to reports | PAContract discussions are expected to continue over the coming weeks, with dancers meeting individually with executives to determine their futures on the programme.
The insider emphasised that the scale of the changes caught many off guard, particularly given Ms Bychkova's longstanding commitment to the show.
"Especially someone like Nadiya, who's shown so much dedication to the show over the years," the source noted.
The uncertainty extends beyond the dance floor, with the BBC yet to confirm which professionals will return for the upcoming series.