MOVIE star looks and classic style made ballroom stars Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova the golden couple of Strictly Come Dancing.
But now it has emerged that the pair who split up in July after 2 years together, are in such conflict, that they had to be kept apart at the National Television Awards earlier this week.
The dance professionals were seen walking the red carpet separately- as mother-of-one Nadiya, 35 posed up a storm in a pink ruffled dress with a long train.
It was noted that Kai, 29 arrived later, and remained distant from the Strictly crowd, accompanied by his DJ friend Tyler West.
An onlooker told the Mail: “An onlooker said: ‘When the pair got inside the O2 they gave each other a very wide berth.’
‘Organisers had ensured there would be no awkward camera shots by keeping the frosty pair apart from each other.’
Veteran broadcaster Angela Rippon, 79, who partnered Kai on last year’s show, was seen on his arm throughout the ceremony, as the pair have remained firm friends.
But now fans of Kai are suggesting that his split from Nadiya may have been behind the Beeb’s decision to demote him, after it was revealed that the Southampton-born dancer will not have a celebrity partner this year.
On the red carpet, Kai told the Mail Online: ‘It is one of those things where some people don’t get partners and that is the way it is. I’m going to be there supporting my colleagues.
I’ll be part of a lot of music acts, guest acts, I will be doing bits on Morning Live and It Takes Two. I will be doing the Christmas special. I’m not really out of it, I’m just not dancing with a celebrity.’
‘Everyone wants to get a celeb, but unfortunately it wasn’t my time this year. Hopefully I will get one next year. Unfortunately there’s nine male celebs and six female celebs.’
Asked about group numbers in the forthcoming 20th anniversary series, he said: ‘We’ve been filming a lot of them and there are some amazing dance numbers coming up.”
The professional ballroom dancers had dated for two years from 2022, with pals telling The Sun that the pair just “grew apart”.
“It’s heartbreaking,” a friend said.
“They 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.
