Nadiya Bychkova and Tom Dean were eliminated tonight (Image: BBC)
Helen Skelton has sent a message of support to a shellshocked Nadiya Bychkova after she refused to talk about her elimination with celebrity partner tonight.
The Ukrainian-Slovenian blonde bombshell was dumped from the show in the first dance-off tonight Olympian .
The pair faced off against Toyah Willcox and her pro partner Neil Jones after falling into the bottom two in week two, the first elimination week.
After both couples danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts, with Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse both choosing to save Willcox and Jones while
Anton Du Beke opted to save Dean and Bychkova.
Head judge Shirley Ballas had the deciding vote and chose to save Willcox and Jones.
Reflecting on his time on the show, Dean said: “I’ve had the best time the last few weeks and getting to work with Nadiya has been incredible.
“I wish I could have gone further and done more dances.
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Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova (Image: BBC)
“I’ve had the most fun and I wish we could keep going longer and longer. We’ll still go out for loads of brunches I’m sure.”
But after the episode went out, which was actually filmed on Saturday, Nadiya posted on her with an emotional message.
She appeared to be seething over the decision as she refused to be drawn on being eliminated from the contest at the very first dance off.
She said: “I really appreciate all the messages but I’m not ready to talk about what happened tonight just yet.”
Former Strictly winner Helen Skelton was the first to offer her support to Nadiya as she replied in the comments: “Such a shame,” with a single tear emoji.
Fellow pro Amy Dowden also backed Nadiya as she said: “Love you. You were both a pure joy to watch.”
And Dan Walker, Nadiya’s celebrity partner from the 2021 series, said: “Poor looked so upset. I think you could have turned him into a brilliant dancer.”
Fellow pros Dianne Buswell and Johannes Radeb also posted red heart emojis as they paid tribute to the fallen ‘Team Golden’.
This series was Nadiya’s return after she was benched for the 2023 run in favour of Luba Mushtuk, and it comes just weeks after her reported split with fellow pro Kai Widdrington, who has himself been left on the reserve team this year.