Nadiya Bychkova fights back tears during It Takes Two exit chat, comforted by Tom Dean

In a heartfelt segment on BBC Two’s It Takes Two, Strictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova appeared visibly emotional as she addressed her recent elimination alongside partner Tom Dean. The duo became the first couple to exit the 2024 series after the judges opted to keep Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones in the competition. Both Nadiya and Tom struggled to hide their disappointment, with Nadiya fighting back tears during her conversation with host Fleur East.

Tom expressed his devastation, admitting that he felt “gutted” and was in “genuine shock” at how abruptly their journey had come to an end. In his interview, he emphasized his dedication to the competition, saying, “I gave it my all. I loved every part of it. There was no part I didn’t enjoy. For it to get cut short like that was just gutting.” He went on to reflect on their hard work together and the bond they formed throughout their time on the show.

Nadiya, also feeling crushed by the outcome, shared her sentiments with Fleur, saying, “It was a shock and I’m absolutely gutted that I won’t get the chance to teach this wonderful man another dance. I was really excited about Movie Week and what we could have done together. Teaching someone like Tom made me fall in love with the show even more. It was really special.”

Their conversation included a focus on the dance-off, with Tom asserting he felt confident in their performance, stating, “I finished and turned to Nadiya and said: ‘There’s nothing more I could’ve done.’ I really believed we’d done enough.” He acknowledged the talent of the other contestants but wished they could have participated longer.

As viewers watched, many took to social media to express their sympathies for Nadiya and Tom. One fan remarked on how “sad” they seemed, highlighting Nadiya’s particularly downcast demeanor during the interview. Others expressed their frustrations at the judges’ decisions, with some suggesting that Tom’s elimination was unjust. One viewer noted, “My heart hurts the most for Nadiya. She had her youngest partner and still left first. I hope she gets paired with a female next year.”

With emotions running high and sentiments shared, fans of Strictly Come Dancing continue to rally around Tom and Nadiya, lamenting the loss of a pair they felt had much more to offer in the competition.