EXCLUSIVE Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova was taken to hospital after hurting herself during rehearsals with insiders saying the injury looked ‘pretty nasty’


Nadiya Bychkova was taken to hospital after a fall(Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)

Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova was taken to hospital after a horror fall during rehearsals. The star was training in north London on Tuesday lunchtime when she was left in agony after injuring herself.

Am ambulance was called amid fears over her back. An insider said: “It looked pretty nasty and no-one was taking any chances. The Strictly crew rushed into action and she was stretchered out.”

A source close to Strictly said: “As a precaution, following a fall during rehearsals, Nadiya was taken to hospital for checks and is receiving full support from medical and welfare teams. Rehearsals continue and the Strictly team are in close contact with Nadiya.”

Am ambulance outside the Strictly studios (Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 12:37pm on Tuesday 12 August to reports of an incident at Regent’s Park Road, NW1. We sent an ambulance crew to the scene and treated one person before taking them to hospital”.

Nadiya, 35, spent a number of hours undergoing tests but it’s understood she has since left hospital. The drama comes as new Strictly names were announced yesterday with a YouTube star, an EastEnders actress and a Love Island winner among the first batch of contestants.

Podcast host and YouTube star George Clarke was announced as the sixth celebrity contestant.

Clarke, also known as George Clarkey, said: “Never thought I’d say this … but I’m doing Strictly! Honestly, I’ve got no idea what I’m doing but I’m excited to get stuck in … and potentially fall over a fair bit.” It comes after EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal was revealed as a contestant during a segment filmed live from Albert Square on ITV’s Good Morning Britain (GMB).


An ambulance worker attends to the dance studios (Image: JAMES CURLEY AND MAGICMOMENTSUK)

She said that “being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen”.

The other stars confirmed to be competing are Love Island winner Dani Dyer, Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston and former footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Speaking on The One Show after her reveal, Dyer, who is the daughter of actor Danny Dyer, said: “It’s such a fun magical show – to be asked to do it is such an honour. I just can’t wait to be able to wear (the costumes) – it’s going to be so much fun.”

Former Chelsea footballer Hasselbaink said: “I’m a father of only girls and Strictly is a part of our home life – I like the show. Let’s have a go.” Actress Kingston, who interrupted her holiday in Italy to speak to hosts Alex Scott and Roman Kemp, joked: “I was super excited but now I’m terrified.”

Aikines-Aryeetey, known as Nitro on the rebooted Gladiators, previously competed in last year’s Strictly Christmas Special and described his decision to return on Monday as “so nice I just had to do it twice”.

In July, the BBC announced that two “incredible” new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian dancer Julian Caillon, would be joining the show.

Daly and Winkleman will return as presenters with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas on the judges’ table. Strictly will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this September.