Dan Walker thanks fans for sending snaps of Nadiya on Strictly tour

‘Glad to see it’s still going strong!’: Dan Walker is touched as Nadiya Bychkova does their lobster dance on the Strictly tour… after claims he’s been a ‘pillar of support’ post-split from her fiancé

  •  BBC Breakfast presenter Dan, 44, has formed a ‘close bond’ with his Strictly pro partner Nadiya, 32, after the pair came fifth on the latest series 
  • A source told MailOnline that Nadiya is ‘confiding’ in Dan following her split from Slovenian footballer Matija Škarabot, 33, who she was engaged to marry 
  • Nadiya and Matija share a five-year-old daughter together and she remains the couple’s priority as the continue to co-parent Mila, who lives in Slovenia 
  • An insider has revealed that Dan and Nadiya have a ‘deep and special bond’, which has helped the Strictly pro dancer overcome struggles in her personal life 
  • The pro dancer took to the stage at Birmingham Arena on Thursday for the first night of the Strictly tour 

Dan Walker thanked fans for sending him photos of newly-single Nadiya Bychkova ‘doing the lobster’ on the first night of the Strictly tour in Birmingham on Thursday. 

Taking to Instagram on Friday, the presenter, 44, who is not taking part in the UK tour due to his BBC Breakfast duties, shared a photo of the professional dancer doing their signature move from their jive to Rock Lobster in the series last year.  

Nadiya, 32, who is believed to have leaned on her dance partner for support during her split from her fiancé Matija Škarabot, celebrated the end of the show with a glass of champagne while dipping her feet in an ice bucket alongside Luba Mushtuk. 

Lobster! Dan Walker thanked fans for sending him photos of newly-single Nadiya Bychkova ‘doing the lobster’ on the first night of the Strictly tour in Birmingham on Thursday

Fun: Taking to Instagram, the presenter, 44, who is not taking part in the UK tour due to his BBC Breakfast duties, shared a photo of the professional dancer doing their signature move

Sharing a photo of Nadiya pulling the claw move in stunning glittery dress, Dan wrote: ‘Thank you to everyone who has sent me the picture of @nadiyabychkova rocking the lobster on the #Strictly live tour. Glad to see it’s still going strong #LobsterOnTour

‘Who is that behind your professional partner?’ 

In the comment section, one fan wrote: ‘Love Nadiya she has really really shined this series with you Dan. I am counting the days down until I see the show in Feb’, to which Dan replied: ‘I’m sure she would appreciate reading that Vicky. Enjoy the show’. 

Iconic: The pair dressed as lobsters to dance the jive to Rock Lobster during Strictly 

Cheers: Nadiya, 32, who is believed to have leaned on Dan for support during her recent split from her fiancé Matija Škarabot, celebrated the end of the show with a glass of champagne

Supportive: Dan and Nadiya came fifth in series last year and formed a close bond 

Sweet: In the comment section, one fan wrote: ‘Love Nadiya she has really really shined this series with you Dan. I am counting the days down until I see the show in Feb’

Wife: Walker has been married to Sarah (above) for 21 years and the couple have three children 

Nadiya put her heartache to one side as she and Luba stood in ice buckets while enjoying a glass of bubbly following the show. 

Tilly Ramsay shared the video as she showed how they were resting their feet in the ice. 

Dressed in red dressing gowns, the girls cheered. She captioned it: ‘How we celebrate the first show’. 

Nadiya looked incredible in a blue shimmering minidress as she took to the stage to dance with Johannes Radebe. She also danced with pal Kai Widdrington during a group dance, who she is said to have leant on for support in recent times.   

Legs for days: Nadiya looked incredible in a blue shimmering minidress as she took to the stage to dance with Johannes Radebe 

Supportive: She also danced with pal Kai Widdrington during a group dance, who she is said to have leant on for support in recent times

Brave face: Nadiya put her heartache to one side as she and Luba stood in ice buckets while enjoying a glass of bubbly following the show

Chilly: Tilly Ramsay shared the video as she showed how they were resting their feet in the ice

And it looked like an action-packed night for the 2021 cast as they recreated some of the favourite dances of the series. 

Strictly champ Rose Ayling-Ellis, 27, had the assistance of a sign language interpreter as she received comments for the judges. 

The EastEnders actress reunited with Giovanni Pernice, 31, once more to perform their moving silent Couple’s Choice dance as well as her steamy Argentine Tango To A Evaristo Carriego by Eduardo Rovira. 

Sign: Strictly champ Rose Ayling-Ellis, 27, had the assistance of a sign language interpreter as she received comments for the judges

Sizzling chemistry: The EastEnders actress reunited with Giovanni Pernice, 31, once more to perform their steamy Argentine Tango To A Evaristo Carriego by Eduardo Rovira


Thought provoking: They performed their moving silent Couple’s Choice dance which touched viewers when they watched it during the series as it gave an insight into being deaf 

Magic: The pair danced barefoot with Giovanni spinning the soap star around during the breathtaking performance

Got the groove: The winners also shimmied across the dance floor doing the salsa to Cuba by The Gibson Brothers

CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson, 28, joined forces with Nancy Xu as they too recreated some of their routines from the show. 

And it was big night for Tilly Ramsay whose dancer partner Nikita Kuzmin was forced to pull out of the live arena tour at the last minute after testing positive for Covid.   

‘So sad to be missing a portion of the Strictly Live Tour, but unfortunately I tested positive for COVID-19,’ he wrote under a photo of himself and Tilly and some grumpy selfies. 

‘Lots of luck to all the amazing Strictly cast… Will be back as soon as I can’. 

Tilly, 20, took to the stage instead with Neil Jones and performed her dance from Matilda for Musicals week as well as a ballroom dance.  


Steamy: CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson, 28, joined forces with Nancy Xu as they too recreated some of their routines from the show

Wow: They performed their Argentine Tango to In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins

Funny: The pair put on an animated display for the Charleston with Nadiya providing support as a backing dancer 

Working it: Great British Bake Off John Whaite and Johannes brought the sparkle as they grooved on stage 


Last minute change: And it was big night for Tilly Ramsay whose dancer partner Nikita Kuzmin was forced to pull out of the live arena tour at the last minute after testing positive for Covid

Twinkle toes: Tilly, 20, took to the stage instead with Neil Jones and performed her dance from Matilda for Musicals week as well as a ballroom dance

Walk this way: Janette Manrara, who hosted It Takes Two this year, brought the fire as she sashayed onto stage 

Bruno’s back! Bruno Tonioli returned after missing out on this series and was his typical flamboyant self

Cheers: Sara Davies and Katya Jones looked delighted to be on stage as they were applauded by the audience 

Having fun: The Dragon’s Den star and Aljaz Skorjanec looked like they were having a blast as they performed in front of the judges 

It was recently reported that Nadiya had split from her and father of her child, Matija, while the couple remain committed to five-year-old daughter Mila.

Nadiya has apparently been leaning on her Strictly family and her friend Dan or support in the wake of her romantic troubles.

All eyes have been on Nadiya this week, with the dancer distracting herself from her recent breakup by immersing herself in intense rehearsals for the show’s live tour this week.


Stunning: The Wanted’s Max George and Katya Jones performed a beautiful ballroom dance 

Nice lines: The pair captivated the audience as they moved across the floor

Off we go! The whole cast had fun as they performed a group number 

In the background: Nadiya joined Luba to be a backing dancer for Rhys’ Charleston 

It’s a 10! The judges were back once again with their paddleboards (pictured Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Bruno) 

Split: MailOnline exclusively revealed that Nadiya is single after ending her engagement to Slovenian footballer Matija Škarabot, the father of her five-year-old daughter 

On Wednesday it was revealed her partner on the 2021 series, has become a ‘pillar of strength and support’ for her during the split.   

The dancer is single after ending her engagement to the Slovenian footballer, 33, as exclusively revealed by MailOnline last week. 

Matija no longer follows Nadiya on Instagram, while Nadiya has not posted about him for seven months.

Sources close to the stunning dancer revealed that she has been confiding in BBC Breakfast presenter Dan after accepting the fact that her long-distance relationship with Matija was no longer working.

Dan has been married to Sarah for 21 years and the couple have three children. 

Silver siren: As Nadiya limbered up for the first show, Dan hinted that he is missing the show in his own Instagram post

One source told MailOnline: ‘Dan and Nadiya have such a great bond and he has been a pillar of strength and support for her following the breakup with Matija.  

‘The bond between them started during Strictly, leaving the cast and crew surprised at how close they became. They were literally inseparable and got on so well and this has continued even now the series is over.’

Another source added: ‘Dan supported Nadiya with everything, including her breakup, which only made their partnership stronger.

‘He even grew close to her mother and daughter, who really enjoyed watching them dance together on Strictly.

‘Dan and Nadiya enjoy a deep and special bond, which has really helped her to get on with her new life following the split.’ 

With her girls: The Strictly professional has distracted herself from the breakup by immersing herself in intense rehearsals this week for the show’s live tour, which kicks off on Friday

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