Serious’s Nadiya Bychkova is comforted by colleague Kai Widdrington after breaking up with fiance

SERIOUS dancer Nadiya Bychkova has split from her footballer fiance – and is comforted by fellow professional Kai Widdrington.

In the final series, she confided in her co-star, TV presenter Dan Walker, after secret parted with Matija Škarabot.

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Nadiya, 32, has formed a “very strong” friendship with Kai, 26 years old.

Last night, a source said: “Nadiya and Kai have amazing chemistry, and a very strong friendship.

“From the first week, they connected and were always laughing and messing around.

“Nadiya and Matija actually broke up months ago and apparently Nadiya confided in Dan at the time.

“Just as she was a great comfort to him when he was upset for a week, so he was a rock to her.

“Meanwhile, Kai is also brilliant — and she confided in him throughout the series.

“He cheered her on and made her laugh again. They’re great friends and a lot of people backstage think they’ll make a really cute couple when the time is right.

“From Nadiya’s point of view, nothing has really changed much.

“She remains a loving fellow mother to Matija and continues to live her life to the fullest.”

Yesterday, news of the split was revealed after Matija, 33, who plays for Slovenian club ND Primorje, unfollowed his fiancée. In return, Nadiya did not post about him for almost seven months.

Nadiya, who was previously married for two years to Russian dancer Sergey Konovaltsev, has also stopped wearing her diamond engagement ring.

The pro, who debuted on the serious page in 2017, had a close friendship with the 6ft 6in tall Dan in the previous series.

The duo are also solid favorites with Strictly viewers and have reached the quarterfinals of the BBC1 show. However, rumors about the couple’s closeness began after the beauty was caught hugging and kissing the father of three behind the scenes.

The heartbroken broadcaster cried after filming a tribute to friend Gary Speed ​​on the 10th anniversary of his death.

The former Football Focus presenter was the last to interview the then-Welsh manager.

Dan later told The Sun that Nadiya was simply giving him an innocent “emotional release” while they were trapped in the show’s Covid bubble.

“There was only one person I was allowed to meet during the entire production that night and that was my partner,” he said. I need someone to hug, and that’s literally.

“The rumors about us are like that. . . disappointed. I know these things happen every year on Serious, and there have been instances in the past of so-called curses, and it’s just television. But it’s not nice. ”

The split means that Nadiya is the latest in a long line of serious rivals to see their relationship fracturing. After his stint on the show in 2013, retired rugby player Ben Cohen split from wife of 11 years Abby.

He then fell in love with his dance partner Kristina Rihanoff and the couple had two children.

Countdown star Rachel Riley split from husband of 15 months Jamie Gilbert during her time on the show Serious the same year. Months later, she announced that she was dating her dance partner Pasha Kovalev.

In 2017, former Eternal star Louise Redknapp and her football expert husband Jamie split, after which the singer admitted her time on Serious was the catalyst.

Four years ago, Katya Jones, married to fellow professional Neil, was seen stalking her dance partner, comic Seann Walsh, in pictures published by The Sun on Sunday.

Katya and Neil also later parted ways with Seann and his partner Rebecca Humphries.

Documentary producer Stacey Dooley also ended her relationship with personal trainer Sam Tucknott, and began dating professional dancer Kevin Clifton shortly after.

Later, Sam calls Kevin “slippery snake”.

Representatives for Nadiya and Kai were contacted for comment last night.

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