Strictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova wins show’s annual pro challenge

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Lizzie Edmonds @lizzieedmo11 December 2020

Strictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova has won the show’s annual pro challenge, setting a new Guinness World Record in the process.

The Ukrainian-Slovenian dancer, 31, took on the fleckerls dance challenge during Friday night’s episode of Strictly spin-off It Takes Two.

She managed to execute a total of 25 fleckerls, a fast moving spin performed during the Viennese waltz, in 30 seconds.

Each fleckerl needed to consist of six steps and those that did not were disallowed.

In second place was Neil Jones, who completed 24 fleckerls, while Karen Hauer and Dianne Buswell were in joint third with 23.

Fan favourite Anton Du Beke also achieved his highest result for a Strictly pro challenge, completing 19 fleckerls.

Strictly Come Dancing 2020 Contestants - In pictures

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Fifteen professionals took part in the challenge with Gorka Marquez placing last with only 13 fleckerls.

It comes after former Strictly Come Dancing stars Michelle Visage and Catherine Tyldesley sided with the BBC over its stance on a drag performance aired last week.

On Wednesday the BBC said in a statement the programme is an “inclusive show” as it defended the routine.RuPaul’s Drag Race star Visage, 52, who competed in the programme last year alongside professional partner Giovanni Pernice, praised the broadcaster in a post on Instagram.

Alongside a photo of a news story reporting the BBC statement, she wrote: “This is a huge part of why I’m honoured to be part of the BBC Strictly family. “And look at my partner Giovanni Pernice giving it EVERYTHING in drag!”

Tyldesley, 37, who also starred in the 2019 series, said the routine was a “joy to behold”. The actress added in an Instagram post: “Strictly is inclusive… of EVERYONE.

“EVERY human being has a right to be present AND represented.”

It Takes Two airs on BBC Two weekdays at 6.30pm. The final episode of the series will air on Friday December 18.

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