Nadiya Bychkova Claims More Free Time Before Axing

boasted about having 'free time' in her schedule after being snubbed from this year's tour just days before she was completely axed from the show.

The professional dancer, 36, is one of the long-term stars of the dance show who has been culled by show bosses.

Before it emerged the Ukrainian star was being dropped from this year's lineup, Nadiya also failed to .

She recently downplayed the snub by bosses and said how it was nice 'being able to free up my schedule'.

Nadiya explained: 'You always want to be part of whatever Strictly is doing, but when it comes to the tours it doesn't work every year.

'Chris [Robshaw] and I were out out quite early this season, so I didn't get to go on tour with him.'

She continued to Closer magazine: 'But at the same time, it's nice to take some time off and not be on the road. Strictly was full-on with so many things, like the group dance. It was intense since July, so being able to free up my schedule in January is nice.'

Nadiya has not yet addressed her axing from Strictly Come Dancing, with the BBC yet to reveal this year's official lineup.

Daily Mail revealed that rumours she was pulled from the pro lineup due to her age are 'well wide of the mark'.

In fact, it is her backstage tantrums and her friendship with Dan Walker, who competed with her in 2021, that is behind the decision not to renew her contract. 

Her diva-like outbursts behind-the-scenes infuriated co-stars, while her break-up with Kai Widdrington, 30, caused unwanted tension among the pros who found being in their company 'awkward'.

Their relationship, which last two years, did not go down well with bosses, who are at pains to include exes in the professionals' line-up in order to retain harmony within the group. 

An insider said: 'Strictly is a light entertainment show, but it has to be competitive - otherwise it doesn't work.

'Execs want the pros to treat the series like a sport and get the best results out of their partners, without going over the top and avoiding bullying scandals which have marred the show in recent years, of course.

'But Nadiya's last three outings with a celebrity partner (also including Matt Goss) haven't pulled up any trees - she hasn't even made the top 10 with any of them.

'So in order to keep standards high, there's hoping whoever fills Nadiya's place on the line-up will achieve better results.' 

Other pro dancers axed this year include Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Márquez, 35.