Strictly Come Dancing pro dancers Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington have split after two years together.
The pair, who both compete on the under fire BBC show, have fallen victim to the stresses of touring, according to insiders.
The Strictly professional dancers went their separate ways following the end of their lucrative tour Behind the Magic, which wrapped in June.
MailOnline understands the couple’s breakup has been ‘amicable’ and they will continue to work together on a professional basis.
Strictly Come Dancing pro dancers Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington have split after two years together
Nadiya, who was previously engaged to Slovenian footballer Matija Skarabot, attended Wimbledon last week on her own, while Kai visited friends and family in the States.
She was due to attend the Police Bravery Awards alongside Kai on July 11, but he ended up going solo.
‘It’s heartbreaking,’ a friend told The Sun. ‘Kai and Nadiya seemed like the most perfect couple and have been so, so blissfully in love.
‘But the pressures of touring – being in each other’s space 24/7, and the stress of performing a sell-out show eventually took its toll.
‘After a tough few weeks, they sat down together and decided to call it quits. They remain incredibly close and are determined their split will not have any impact on the next series of Strictly – they remain consummate professionals, and nothing will change that.’
The dancers started dating in 2022, falling in love when Nadiya was partnered with Dan Walker while Kai danced with AJ Odudu.
Their romance blossomed over texts and phone calls before Kai revealed that he asked her out for dinner.
They share an English Bulldog Snoopy together while Kai has previously gushed about his close relationship with Nadiya’s daughter Mila, seven.
In February Kai explained how it was ‘very important he got it right’ with Mila, who he described as ‘one of the cleverest little girls he’d ever met’.
Kai also revealed the new nickname that she has for him, which he said has changed since he last appeared on the show.
He said: ‘She has a new nickname for me – I remember last time I was on the show, it was Kai Lemon Pie, but now it’s Kai Cotton Candy Pie for 2024.’
It’s been a busy few months for the pair, who after wrapping the 2023 series of Strictly headed out on the Strictly live tour together in January before their Behind the Magic tour.
They have both been announced in the 2024 line up for Strictly, which has come under fire in recent weeks amid claims of misconduct behind the scenes.
On Tuesday night it was revealed that a third professional dancer on the show has been named as a ‘person of interest’ in the wake of the abuse and bullying allegations.
Graziano Di Prima, 30, was axed from the show last week over reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, 27, during last year’s series.
It came just weeks after Giovanni Pernice, 33, was suspended while a BBC probe is conducted over claims of off-camera misconduct made by Amanda Abbington, 50, and two other former celeb partners.
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