STRICTLY professional Nadiya Bychkova has admitted she has no idea if she’ll be coming back amid Giovanni Pernice’s show crisis.
The Ukrainian ballroom star is still none the wiser about her involvement in the coming series following the sacking of Giovanni after a string of bullying allegations.
Italian dancer Gio is currently under investigation by the Beeb after former celebrity partners, including Amanda Abbingdon made complaints about him.
Giovanni has maintained that he is innocent but the debacle has thrown the show into chaos, and speaking to The Sun Nadiya admitted that she is still waiting to hear whether she has made the cut.
Asked whether she’ll return this year, she said: “I think you’ll have to wait and see the Strictly announcement.”
And Nadiya hinted that BBC producers are having to be extra careful when considering professional pairings.
In answer to a question about the need to match partners in terms of height she said: “Probably, yes, but that’s what producer’s do, and it’s probably the other way round.
“They need to get the right one because obviously it’s the show for them and it’s important that celebrities are having the best time and they’re enjoying the experience and learning something new.”
Last year the BBC was slammed for failing the give Nadia a celebrity partner and the backlash was led by her ex- show partner, Dan Walker.
The Channel 5 news anchor compared the decision to leaving football legend Lionel Messi on the bench for the World Cup Final.
He was partnered with Nadiya in 2021 and they formed one of the show’s most exciting duos.
Nadiya, who is in a relationship with fellow pro Kai Widdrington, 28, expressed her disappointment on social media last year.
But a TV insider said her towering height was the factor in the decision making.
They said: “At almost 6ft tall in heels, Nadiya is by far the tallest of all the pros.
“That meant she would have towered over seven out of the eight male celebrities in the competition.”
Meanwhile other famous faces who have spoken out about Giovanni include TV presenter Laura Whitmore, who was partnered with him in 2016 and GMB presenter Ranvir Singh who competed in 2020.
Gio’s partner on last years show Amanda Abbington sensationally quit in October citing ‘medical reasons,’ before later confessing she’d suffered mild PTSD after being exposed to his apparently ‘tough’ teaching style.
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2015: Giovanni joins Strictly and reaches the final with Georgia May Foote.
2016: Partnered with Laura Whitmore, who later says her experience with Gio left her in tears every day.
2018: Makes the final again, this time with Faye Tozer.
2021: Wins with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis.
SEPTEMBER 2023: Paired with actress Amanda Abbington, who threatens to quit in early weeks following rows.
OCTOBER 2023: She pulls out of live show for “medical reasons” and then quits altogether.
JANUARY 6, 2024: Amanda demands the BBC hands over rehearsals footage after seeking legal advice following claims she was left with PTSD.
JANUARY 7: The BBC refuses to launch probe into Giovanni
JANUARY 9: The Sun reveals the BBC is standing by Gio.
JANUARY 13: Amanda reveals she has received death threats over the row.
MARCH 16: Amanda, Ranvir and Laura meet to compare notes on how Gio treated them.
MARCH 23: BBC in a bind as bosses are “undecided” on if Gio should get a celeb partner.
MARCH 31: Giovanni to hold a crunch meeting with BBC as it is revealed he clashed with a fourth partner, Faye Tozer.
MAY 16: The Sun reveals Giovanni has QUIT the show.
MAY 17: BBC launches and internal investigation into the conduct of the star.
MAY 20: ‘One or two’ more celebs are said to be considering action