Strictly exes Nadiya and Kai keep their distance from each other as pro dancers reunite for first rehearsals

STRICTLY Come Dancing exes Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova kept their distance from one another in the first rehearsal snap ahead of the new series.

The professional cast of the under-fire BBC show have reunited to begin training ahead of its return to screens later in the year.

Despite the scandals involving former star Giovanni Pernice and axed Graziano Di Prima leaving a dark cloud hovering over the show, the remaining pros beamed and looked happy to be back at work.

Kai and Nadiya smiled through their recent heartache, remaining professional as they posed on either side of the ensemble.

Their reunion as part of the cast seemingly puts to bed reports the duo "can't bear to be in the same room as each other" after an alleged row.

We revealed last week how the poster couple were dealing with their off-stage problems whilst living and training 24/7 together.

No third party was involved and pals say they “grew apart” after two “blissful” years together.

“It’s heartbreaking,” a friend said.

“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.

"They had been drifting emotionally for a while, and things actually came to a head during the tour - ironically called Behind The Magic - which, obviously, was incredibly problematic. 

"They had to dance sexily and romantically together for days and nights on end, whilst trying to work through their off-stage problems. It must have been exhausting on every level.

"But they didn't want to let down their fans, and were consummate professionals: they knew the show, quite literally, must go on.

“After a rough few weeks, they sat down together once the tour was over and decided to call it quits. It was a mutual decision.

"They remain incredibly close and are determined their split will not have any impact on the next series of Strictly."

The couple, both pin-ups of Strictly, started dating in 2022.

They share an English bulldog, Snoopy, together - it is thought they will share custody of their beloved pooch. 

They fell in love while Nadiya, 33, from Ukraine, was partnered with then-BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker, and Southampton-born Kai, 27, was dancing with AJ Odudu.

They gave their first joint interview in January last year.

Kai told us: “I think I speak for most of the men in Britain when I say that they would find Nadiya absolutely drop-dead gorgeous — and I still have to pinch myself sometimes.

“We liked each other, and we were texting and having phone calls and so on, and yeah, it blossomed from there.

“Then one day I was like ‘do you want to go out for dinner?’, and it went from there.”