Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova has shared a message to her co-star and real-life partner Kai Widdrington after they faced each other in the hit show's dreaded dance-off.
The loved-up dancers were rumoured to have struck up a romance last year but have only been open about their blossoming relationship after they snapped all smiles as they held hands in Manchester following the opening night of the Strictly Professionals tour at The Lowry Theatre in Salford in April.
Nadiya also confirmed the news of their relationship for the first time in April, revealing she and Kai had been dating "for a couple of months now". But it wasn't until July that the dancers appeared ready to be open about with their relationship online.
READ MORE: BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Kaye Adams suffers awkward encounter hours after being first star eliminated from show
Following a few days away in Italy, Nadiya shared a sweet snap of Kai planting a kiss on her cheek while she coyly cuddled up to him after one of his dance shows. "What an opening night [applause emoji]. The proudest girlfriend," she wrote across the image.
But in the last couple of weeks the pair are not only a couple but also competitors as they kickstarted the 20th series of Strictly with their new celebrity partners. And on Sunday night, Nadiya and Matt Goss and Kai and Kaye Adams found themselves going head-to-head in a bid to stay in the dance competition.
After the first public vote of the 2022 series of the BBC One show, Loose Women star Kaye, 59, found herself up against the Bros star. She performed her routine with partner Kai for the second time after Saturday evening’s live show.
The pair danced the Charleston to Music! Music! Music! before Matt, 54, took to the dancefloor with his partner Nadiya to perform their samba to Night Fever by the Bee Gees in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke and Motsi Mabuse unanimously voted to save Matt and Nadiya, meaning it was Kaye and Kai who became the first couple to be eliminated from the BBC One show, despite head judge Shirley Ballas saying she'd have voted against her colleagues.
Following the results show, Nadiya took to Instgaram with a photo of her and Matt ready for their performance on Saturday night which saw the singer channel his inner John Travolta while Nadiya dazzled in a gold cut-out jumpsuit.
"It’s always tough to be in the first ever dance off of the series and it was especially tough to be in there against the amazing @kayeadamsofficial and of course my [love heart emoji] @kaiwidd," the dancer typed. "I’m gutted for you both @kayeadamsofficial you are really a superstar and I absolutely adore you. You did an incredible job and I’m sure from what you told me you had and amazing strictly experience with @kaiwidd."
She then added: "I am proud of you partner @mattgoss and so grateful for another week @bbcstrictly and a chance to come back fighting."
Kai, meanwhile, shared a special message to Kaye who said she was going to 'cry' over his sweet words. Alongside a video of their exit chat with Tess, the former footballer said: "I want to say a massive thank you to my amazing celebrity partner @kayeadamsofficial.
"It was my absolute pleasure to step into the rehearsal room and on to that strictly ballroom floor with you we had such fun endless laughs and I’m gutted it’s come to an early end. You really are and always will be a superstar! Keep shining."
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