BBC Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova sends message to partner Kai Widdrington after facing each other in dance off

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.

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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