Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkova have set up a showbiz production company together, filings and media reports show, continuing a public friendship that dates to their time as dance partners on Strictly Come Dancing.
The firm, named Butterfly Entertainment, was reportedly registered last month with business activities listed as production and programming of motion pictures and television and performing arts. Media reports say only Walker and Bychkova are listed as directors and that they hold equal shares in the company.
Walker, a presenter and news anchor who previously competed on the BBC dance series with Bychkova in 2021, and the Ukrainian-born professional dancer have maintained a public friendship since reaching the quarterfinals. They have appeared together at events, taken part in magazine shoots, and Walker supported Bychkova on parts of her tour, interviewing her on stage during performances described in media reports.
Their working relationship and frequent public outings have attracted attention in tabloid and entertainment coverage, which has noted their social-media interactions and joint appearances. A source quoted by The Sun said the two “formed a genuine bond on the show and have maintained a relationship ever since, albeit a relatively low-key one.”
Bychkova has a daughter and has been publicly linked to several dancers and partners in recent years; media reports say she split from dance partner Kai Widdrington last year and had previously split from her former fiancé, Matija Škarabot, in 2022. Walker has been married for more than two decades and presents news programming on Channel 5.
The move into production formalises a partnership that sources and reports say developed from their Strictly collaboration and subsequent professional and social contact. They have also been photographed meeting for meals and attending the same industry events, and were featured together in a cover shoot for the Yorkshire Post Magazine.
The company registration and listed business activities indicate an intention to operate in television and film production and the performing arts. There was no immediate public statement from Walker or Bychkova about Butterfly Entertainment at the time of publication.