Strictly Come Dancing Star Nadiya Bychkova says she is desperately trying to get her grandmother out of her war-torn homeland
Nadiya Bychkova says she is desperately trying to get her grandmother out of Ukraine
GB News
Strictly Come Dancing Star Nadiya Bychkova says she is desperately trying to get her grandmother out of her war-torn homeland.
Speaking to GB News, Bychkova said she still finds it hard to believe war has broken out in her homeland Ukraine.
She told Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster: “It is very difficult. In the part of Ukraine she is in, the war started long ago in 2014.
"So, in the worst possible way we kind of got used to it. What is difficult is being away now because you used to be able to get on the plane and two hours later you are there.
Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington are both pro dancers on Strictly Come Dancing
PA
“Now it takes three days to get there and you never know what can happen along the way. My mum's travelling more often to see my grandmother and to make sure she's okay. But it's just really hard.
"I still can't believe that this is all happening. And it just doesn't stop.
"I think at first I couldn't believe it and I thought, and hoped, it would maybe last for a week or two but here we are longer than a year in and it's still going on.
“I'm trying to get my grandmother here but it's difficult as she's older and she's like 'well that is my home, I don't want to leave'.
"But at the same time I'm so worried if anything happens.There's not much I can do straight away because it'll take me three days to get there.”
Bychkova, 33, was speaking alongside her boyfriend and fellow Strictly star Kai Widdrington, 27.
The pair are embarking on a dance tour of the UK with a new show but Bychkova said she will reunite with her family when it ends.
“It will be wonderful to see them again,” she said. “A real celebration. I am looking forward to it very much.”
Earlier this month it emerged the pair had created a brand-new dance show which will see the Strictly Come Dancing superstars performing for the first time on stage together.
Nadiya Bychkova says she is desperately trying to get her grandmother out of her war-torn homeland
PA
Widdrington, who is the son of former footballer Tommy Widdrington, and Bychkova said they wanted to create a show that highlights their different backgrounds, showcasing their ballroom journeys while shining a spotlight on their love affair with dance.
Bychkova joined the dancing show as a professional dancer in 2017.
BBC wildlife cameraman, Hamza Yassin and his partner Jowita Przystal won the glitterball in December 2022 thanks to the public vote.
TV presenter Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu and Fleur East and Vito Coppola also battled it out for the trophy.
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