Strictly's Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova issued five-word warning over show future

Strictly Come Dancing professionals Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova have been issued a warning about working together on the new series.

The former couple, who began dating in 2022, parted ways following the end of their lucrative tour Behind the Magic, which wrapped in June.

A source close to the pair told The Sun: "It's heartbreaking. Kai and Nadiya seemed like the most perfect couple and have been so, so blissfully in love. But the pressures of touring - being in each other’s space 24/7, and the stress of performing a sell-out show eventually took its toll.

"After a tough few weeks, they sat down together and decided to call it quits. They remain incredibly close and are determined their split will not have any impact on the next series of Strictly - they remain consummate professionals, and nothing will change that."

Just weeks after their split, Kai and Nadiya reunited as rehearsals for the upcoming series of Strictly kicked off. While the exes are committed to not letting their split get in the way of their work, relationship expert and co-founder of dating app So Syncd, Louella Alderson has explained how things could become difficult.

She told Express.co.uk: "Working together after a split can be challenging for any couple, especially in the public eye. In the case of Strictly's Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova, their split could bring added pressure and tension to their professional relationship on the show.

"Strictly is already a high-intensity and emotionally charged competition, and adding the dynamic of a recent split between two professional dancers could potentially affect their performances." Louella warned: It's important to maintain professionalism," adding that the former couple need to focus on their work."

"It's not just Kai and Nadiya who could be affected by this as choreographers and other members of the Strictly team could find themselves caught in the middle.

"It appears that they are both keen to keep their distance from each other, which makes situations like rehearsing group routines and dancing together difficult," Louella said. "This will likely require more thought from the team to ensure that both dancers feel comfortable and can perform their best."

However, their breakup could end up having a positive impact on their professional lives, with Louella adding: "On the other hand, this situation could also bring out a new level of passion and energy in their performances." It could bring out their competitive sides which could ultimately lead to "even more impressive" routines.

The relationship expert concluded: "Ultimately, it's a unique and complex situation that could potentially impact the show in both positive and negative ways. As long as they can maintain professionalism and focus on their work, Kai and Nadiya should be able to handle the situation gracefully and continue to deliver top performances for Strictly viewers."