The professional dancer was taken to hospital by ambulance
Nadiya Bychkova was taken to hospital after suffering a fall during rehearsals(Image: Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova suffered a dangerous fall in rehearsals and feared it was the end of her career. With rehearsals underway for the upcoming series, Nadiya was taken to hospital in an ambulance last month after injuring herself in the training room.
With the 2025 series just weeks away, the professional dancers are perfecting their impressive group routines. The 36-year-old has spoken for the first time about the accident which occurred on August 12.
According to the Mirror, the Ukrainian professional dancer said: “It was a really scary moment. I was up on a chair and table in heels rehearsing for a group dance and the next thing I knew, I was on my back in pain and not really sure what was going on. There are so many things that go through your head. I was incredibly worried because I couldn’t feel my left leg and I was unable to move.”
She explained: “I was strapped to a trolley for hours and told not to move while we waited for a scan. My head was held with straps and I could only look directly up.
“That’s when you worry because you have no idea how bad it is. I was thinking it might be the end of my series or even my dancing career. I had time to think about everything and there were a lot of tears.”
Nadiya Bychkova has been a professional dancer on the BBC show since 2017(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
Nadiya faced an agonising wait for the results of a scan to assess the damage to her spine. She recalled: “The staff at the hospital were brilliant and when I was told there was no permanent damage it was the biggest relief of my life.”
Incredibly, Nadiya was able to get back to work ahead of the new BBC series. This week, she attended the premiere of the new Downton Abbey film, where she dazzled in a stunning white gown.
Speaking to the Mirror at the event, she said: “I was a bit battered and bruised but nothing a few trips to the physio couldn’t solve… within a week I was back on the dancefloor.”
Looking back on the incident, Nadiya has nothing but praise for her colleagues on the BBC show. She said: “The Strictly crew were absolutely amazing. The medical team looked after me and kept me stable and warm while we waited for the ambulance.”
Fellow dancer Carlos Gu got a special mention for trying to keep her spirits up with an unusual song choice as they waited for the ambulance to arrive.
She laughed: “Carlos has a song for every occasion but I’m not sure his decision to sing me Killing Me Softly was helping…it was hilarious. I couldn’t laugh because of the pain so I cried but it was beautiful.
“He changed to I Will Survive and that was a much more positive message and kept me going.” Asked how she was doing now, Nadiya replied: “I’m OK. Feeling better than ever. Fighting fit and ready for an amazing series.”
Speaking of the upcoming series of the show, Nadiya said: “I am always so thankful to be a part of the biggest show on telly and this is my ninth year.”
She added: “I would love to make it a decade next year but my focus for the next few months is making the 2025 edition of the show, with a great bunch of celebrities, the best one yet.”
Last year, she teamed up with swimmer Tom Dean, who was the first celebrity voted off the show. Her best place finish was with TV journalist Dan Walker, when they came fifth in 2021.
Celebrities taking part this year include YouTube star George Clarke, EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, Love Island winner Dani Dyer, Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston and former Chelsea footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Two new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian Julian Caillon, are also joining the show. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman return as hosts with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas on the judges’ panel.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, September 20 on BBC One and iPlayer.
