Nadiya Bychkova posted a series of poolside photos in a hot-pink two-piece on Instagram on Friday as Strictly Come Dancing prepares to return to BBC One and iPlayer later this month, days after she was treated in hospital following a fall in rehearsal.
The 36-year-old Ukrainian dancer wrote alongside the images, "Ready, set, sparkle — @bbcstrictly is nearly back!" and included a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the trailer shoot for the upcoming series. Fans responded with praise for her appearance and messages of support for her recovery.
Bychkova's post follows a scare during rehearsals earlier this month when she was taken to hospital by ambulance after landing on her back. She posted a photograph from the hospital and thanked the Strictly medical team and hospital staff for their care. "I just wanted you to know that I am ok," she wrote, adding that she was given the all-clear after an X-ray and had been assigned physiotherapy.
Producers recorded the launch show this week, with the programme scheduled to screen on Saturday, Sept. 20. Organisers had taken steps to keep the celebrity-professional pairings confidential, but the pairings were leaked online by members of the audience hours after filming. The BBC and show producers have not publicly confirmed the full line-up; Daily Mail has chosen not to publish the leaked pairings.
Sources have also told media outlets that Bychkova and former Strictly contestant and presenter Dan Walker have recently set up a production company, Butterfly Entertainment, listed with activities including production and programming of motion pictures and TV, and performing arts. The company was reported to have been established last month following a mutual interest developed during their time on the show.
Bychkova has competed on Strictly since joining the programme and has been a prominent member of the professional cast. Her Instagram update reiterated her intention to return to the dance floor, saying she would be "back on that dance floor soon" and that she was preparing to "shine and sparkle" in the series.
Strictly producers and tour medical staff have procedures in place to assess injuries sustained during rehearsals, and the show has previously dealt with contestant and professional injuries that required medical attention and temporary withdrawals. Bychkova's public update to fans aimed to allay immediate concerns about her fitness to perform while confirming ongoing physiotherapy.
The new series will feature 15 celebrities competing for the Glitterball Trophy, according to promotional material for the launch show. The exact celebrity-professional pairings are expected to be revealed around the broadcast of the launch episode. Bychkova's recent social media posts and the reported business venture with Walker add to interest ahead of the show's return as viewers anticipate both the on-screen partnerships and off-screen developments involving the professional dancers.
She has continued to post promotional content linked to the series while sharing recovery updates, and her comments suggest she remains engaged with the production despite the recent injury scare. The launch show and subsequent episodes will indicate whether her rehabilitation timeline allows a full performance schedule for the coming series.