Strictly Come Dancing pro Nadiya Bychkova has been spotted for the first time after suffering a major health setback ahead of the new series.
Earlier this week, the dancer revealed she’d had to make a hospital visit after’landing on her back’ during a training session.
In an Instagram post, Nadiya, who joined Strictly in 2017, spoke about how she was feeling ‘really worried’ as rehearsals get underway for Strictly’s 2025 season.
Since that hospital visit, the 35-year-old has used Instagram Story to update her fans on her recovery, but looked in high spirits as she arrived for training on Friday.
Nadiya, whose previous celeb partners include Olympian Tom Dean and broadcaster Dan Walker, smiled for cameras, looking effortlessly stylish in a pair of denim shorts and a cropped white shirt.
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Carrying coffee to fuel her day of dancing, she carried her essentials in a big designer handbag, joining her fellow returning pros at a London studio.
Nadiya’s sighting comes after her latest social media update, as she wrote yesterday: ‘I’ve had so many kind messages over the past 48 hours. Thank you for your love and support.
‘So many questions too, so I just wanted to let you know that I had another scan today – just to check things over – and some more physio from the Strictly team, and I’ll be back on that dancefloor tomorrow.’
She finished by reassuring her fans that she’s feeling ‘more like [herself]’ now after resting, adding she can’t wait to be back with her Strictly family and is looking forward to the new series.
In a previous Instagram post, Nadiya explained exactly what happened during her accident.
‘Well… where do I start? What a 24 hours,’ her caption read.
‘Thank you so much for all the messages, love and support. I just wanted you to know that I am ok.
‘I had a fall in training yesterday and landed on my back. I was really worried for a while and I was so thankful to the Strictly family and medical team who really looked after me.
‘The staff at the hospital were so kind and caring.
‘I’m smiling in the picture, but it was really scary and there were a few tears as I had to lie still for hours but I was given the all-clear after an X-ray and allowed to go home.’
She confirmed that she now has some physiotherapy lined up, but explained to her followers she was more than ready to get stuck into the upcoming Strictly season.
‘I can’t wait for you to see it. Keep dancing!’ she concluded.
The selfie showed her lying in a hospital with a slight smile.
She’s been flooded with support in the comments since the incident, including from judge Motsi Mabuse, who wrote: ‘My heart dropped when I heard! So grateful you’re okay.
‘Take all the time you need. We need you shining and sparkling on that floor soon! Sending you all my love.’
Her former Strictly partner Dan added: ‘Glad to hear you’re ok partner,’ with a dancing emoji.
‘So glad you are OK. Rest up and take all the time you need,’ fan shirleighshirlz said.
‘Go easy, and I hope you’ll be back dancing,’ freddexmoregan echoed.
‘Sending so much love, back injuries are so scary! It’ll be great to see you on stage again,’ sophiekerr579.
The fall is understood to have taken place in North London, with an ambulance being called.
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘It looked pretty nasty, and no one was taking any chances. The Strictly crew rushed into action, and she was stretchered out.’
Ukrainian-Slovenian entertainer Nadiya has been a staple of the professional lineup since signing to Strictly eight years ago and will inevitably dazzle viewers once more when Strictly airs again on September 20.
The professional cast has undergone plenty of changes this year after Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima exited the show, making way for new pros Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon.
Gorka Márquez will also not be competing this year due to scheduling conflicts, although he will appear in some of the group dances.
As for the celebrity contestants, the Strictly 2025 class is now complete, and today marked the first rehearsals with the full cast.
This includes Doctor Who star Alex Kingston, former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw, EastEnders’ Balvinder Sopal, reality TV personality Dani Dyer, drag queen La Voix, model Ellie Goldstein, and Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn.
A previous version of this story was published on August 13.
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