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Strictly couple Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova chat to Bella about dancing together and playing The Traitors on tour
After keeping their relationship a secret for months, Strictly Come Dancing’s Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova announced that they were dating in June 2022. Since then, the professional dancers’ relationship has gone from strength to strength with Kai, 28, earning a sweet nickname (Kai Cotton Candy Pie) from Nadiya’s seven-year-old daughter, Mila, and a joint tour called Once Upon A Time last summer. This year Kai and Nadiya, 34, are taking to the stage once again for their second tour, Behind The Magic. They chatted to Bella about their relationship and, of course, Strictly…
What’s your favourite style of dance to do together?
Kai: I like all dances with Nadiya honestly. It’s easy, it’s effortless and I’m very lucky that I get to dance with her. She’s like a Rolls-Royce. She’s a five-time world champion, and in my opinion, the best in the business – she’s certainly the most decorated professional on Strictly. Professionally, I’m lucky to share the stage with her, but it does make it that bit more special that we’re together.
Did you always want to be professional dancers?
Kai: I started dancing when I was seven, but I made the decision to choose dancing over football when I was 12 years old. My dad was a professional footballer, and I had a Premier League team that wanted to sign me – Southampton – but I also had the British champion that wanted to dance with me, so I had to choose between the two.
I eventually decided that I loved dancing that little bit more than I did football.
Nadiya: I started at five and it was always dancing. I never wanted to try something else. I’ve just always had so much love for it and so much passion. When I was growing up, my dad would always tell me, “If you end up doing what you love the most and what makes you happy, and if that’s going to put food on your table, it will be the best thing ever.” I had a similar conversation with my daughter the other day when I was walking her to school and I told her, “You need to make sure that you choose something you will really love. Yes, you will be working your whole life, but it won’t feel like work if you’re doing something you love.” Dance is very tiring, it’s physically demanding, but it’s the best thing ever.
Nadiya, is your daughter, Mila, showing any dancing prowess?
She’s a beautiful dancer, but she has many other talents too. Whatever she wants to do I’ll support.
How do you balance travelling and work with being a mother?
It’s very difficult. Luckily, with Strict
