Nadiya Bychkova pens cryptic post minutes after first BBC Strictly elimination: 'Not ready to talk'

Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova

Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova were the first couple eliminated

BBC
Lauren Williams

By Lauren Williams


Published: 29/09/2024

- 20:57

Nadiya Bychkova and Tom Dean were the first couple to be booted from the BBC competition

Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova penned a cryptic post on her Instagram account just minutes after it was announced she and her celebrity partner Tom Dean had been eliminated from the competition.

For their second dance of the competition, Dean and Bychkova performed the Cha Cha to Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire, and were given a score of 20, which was added to their previous score of 23 from the week before.


Despite their optimism, the public vote meant the dancing duo were in the bottom two alongside Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones - leaving them to dance once more in the dance-off.

After performing, it was down to the judges to make their decision as to who they wanted to save, with Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse both saving Willcox and Jones.

Anton Du Beke chose to save Dean and Bychkova, leaving head judge Shirley Ballas to have the deciding vote and save Willcox and Jones.

Discussing his time on the show, Dean expressed: "I've had the best time the last few weeks and getting to work with Nadiya has been incredible. I wish I could have gone further and done more dances.

"I've had the most fun and I wish we could keep going longer and longer. We'll still go out for loads of brunches I'm sure."

Looking visibly annoyed at upset by the decision, Bychkova added: "To get to know him, he's not just a three-time Olympic champion he's a true gentleman and he taught me how to work really hard and how to put everything in.

"And you know what? On this programme, sometimes to win, you don’t need to win, and that’s how I feel this year."

Moments after the results - which are pre-filmed on a Saturday night - Bychkova took to her Instagram account and posted an image of the two of them in their glitzy Cha Cha outfits.

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Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova were not saved by the Strictly judges

BBC

However, whilst the pair looked proud of their performance in the picture, her caption relayed a different message as she wrote: "I really appreciate all the messages but I’m not ready to talk about what happened tonight just yet."

Her former partner Dan Walker was one of the first to comment on the result and said: "Poor @tomdean00 looked so upset. I think you could have turned him into a brilliant dancer."

One fan added: "He was fabulous. I knew it was going to be a shocker tonight. Tom deserved to be at movie week."

A second said: "Not sure what the judges were looking at but I am so sorry Nadiya! I thought you and Tom didn't even deserve to be in the bottom two let alone going home!"

Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones

Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones have made it through to Movie Week

BBC

"Shouldn’t have been there!!! I’m so sorry but that is completely messed up," a third slammed before someone else expressed: "My girl, far too early. Love you millions, big hugs."

"Omg. Robbed. Big love to you both," a fifth said before a sixth agreed: "I’m so gutted you both I really like you so much hopefully will come back next year 2025 fingers crossed hopefully that not going to happen again for you both thank you take part." (sic)

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