Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Nadiya Bychkova addresses ‘curse’ rumours about ‘very good friend’ Dan Walker
‘Sometimes you just need a friend to be there’ (Picture: Mega/PA)
Strictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova has responded to romance rumours after she was seen hugging Dan Walker backstage.
The BBC Breakfast presenter, who made it through the quarter-finals before being eliminated after a tense dance-off against AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington, recently branded the infamous Strictly curse ‘disappointing’ after sharing a cute moment with the ballroom and Latin dancer.
The newsreader was upset over the death of his footballer friend Gary Speed, who was found dead at his home in November 2011.
Speaking to The Sun, Nadiya explained: ‘It was a very difficult day for Dan. It was a full-on week in general, a lot of work, and it had made him emotional.
‘Sometimes you need a friend just to be there and there was nothing I could do other than be there for him.
‘It just happened to be the same day as the live show.’
Nadiya described Dan as a ‘real gentleman’ (Picture: PA)
Dan, who has been married to Sarah Walker since 2001, recently addressed the growing speculation and explained Nadiya was ‘the only person’ he was allowed to touch in the production team.
Reflecting on his time on the hit BBC show, Dan also praised his former partner for showing him ‘how to dance’.
‘There are some people who walk into your life and turn some lights on, and that’s what she has done to me.
The pair have some fun numbers during their time on Strictly (Picture: PA)
‘You’re an amazing person, and if you’ll have me, you’ll have a friend for life Nadiya Bychkova.’
Strictly is set to conclude this Saturday with John and Johannes, AJ and Kai, and Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice competing in the final.
More: Strictly Come Dancing
CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson narrowly missed out on a place in the final after becoming the 11th contestant to be eliminated from the dance competition on Sunday night.
The Strictly Come Dancing final airs Saturday at 7pm on BBC One.
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