THIS time last year Nadiya Bychkova was lighting up our TV screens with waltzes and jives week after week.
Fast forward to today and is sat at home watching the competition with the rest of us after being axed from the show – but insiders tell me she’s secretly plotting a huge comeback, with a little help from her close pal .
I can reveal that Nadiya, 37, has her sights set on an acting career now and she’s planning on making it a family business.
The dancer is set to sign with an acting agent – and so is her daughter Mila, who she shares with her ex – Slovenian footballer Matija Škarabot.
An insider explained: “Nadiya is determined to show there’s so much more to her than Strictly. Dancing will always be a huge part of her life, but she’s now setting her sights on becoming a serious actress, and she’s incredibly ambitious about making that happen.
“After appearing in a film last year, Nadiya really caught the acting bug.
“It opened her eyes to a completely different side of the entertainment industry, and she’s now determined to pursue it properly.
“She knows there’s big money there too. She’s signing with an acting agent who has connections to some major Hollywood productions, including actors associated with The Devil Wears Prada. Nadiya doesn’t want to do things by halves. If she’s going to pursue acting, she wants the right people around her.
“For Nadiya, this is the ultimate game plan. She’s incredibly driven and knows that she can’t dance professionally forever. Acting could give her a whole new career that lasts for decades.”
Nadiya appeared in Netflix ballroom dance movie 10 Dance, which was released last December.
She has big plans for her daughter Mila, ten, as well. After previously keeping her identity private online, in recent months she’s slowly started introducing her more and more – and it’s gone down very well with her fans.
Mila is already following in Nadiya’s footsteps, competing and winning dance competitions – the future is looking very bright for her.
The insider added: “What’s particularly exciting is that she’s also looking at opportunities for her daughter. She’s exploring representation for them both, and her daughter is even set to take acting classes to help develop her confidence and skills.
“She wants to make her daughter the next .”
Ukrainian born Nadiya was a fan favourite during her near decade on Strictly – and her exit came as a shock to not just her but also her fans.
Over the years viewers fell for her charm on the dance floor, watching her paired with star , singer , and the journalist Dan Walker, amongst others.
She grew incredibly close to Dan after they appeared together in 2021 and her bond with the father-of-three, who has been married to his wife Sarah for 25 years, was the talk of the show.
It’s also said to have played a part in her split from fellow dancer after two years.
Last year Dan and Nadiya launched their own showbiz production firm called Butterfly Entertainment.
Speaking about their friendship, Nadiya gushed in the past: “I made a great friend. It feels like we’ll stay friends for life.
“Dan is probably one of the kindest people on this planet. He is very caring and always looking after other people. He is selfless and a gentleman.”
Dan is said to be fully supportive of her decision to move into acting and has helped her gain the confidence to step out of the shadow of Strictly.
My insider continued: “There’s definitely an element of wanting to prove people wrong after Strictly. She wants to show that leaving the ballroom doesn’t mean disappearing from the spotlight. In many ways, she sees this as the beginning of an even bigger chapter.
“Some people are suggesting this is her revenge on the show.”
Nadiya was thought to be in talks for I’m A Celeb this year but after missing out, she has been approached to take part in Celebrity , which she is said to be considering.
But while staying in the limelight is clearly important to her – Nadiya’s end goal is the big screen.
“Nadiya knows breaking into acting won’t happen overnight, but she’s prepared to put in the work. She’d love to land a major television drama or film role and eventually be recognised as an actress in her own right, rather than simply a dancer from Strictly,” said my insider.
“She sees this as a chance to build something exciting for both herself and her daughter.
“She’s thinking about their future, and if she can make the transition from the ballroom to the big screen, she believes it could be one of the smartest moves of her career.”
