Kai Widdrington has received the firm backing of his Strictly Come Dancing colleagues over a new career venture, which has seen him and fellow pro and girlfriend Nadiya Bychkova recruit a 'dream team' of dancers for their own tour.
Kai tasted heartache on his first year as a Strictly dancer, when he made it all the way to the final with AJ Odudu, only to have to pull out and watch from the sidelines after the TV host was injured in training.
But, while he was the first professional to bow out of Strictly last year, as he and Loose Women's Kaye Adams were voted off after just two performances, Kai's 2022 ended on a high when he triumphed in the show's annual Christmas Special, alongside Coronation Street actress Alexandra Mardell and then started off this year with another victory, as he and Helen SKelton notched up the most wins on the Strictly live tour.
Nadiya also made an earlier than expected exit from Strictly, as she and music icon Matt Goss got the boot a few weeks after Kai and Kaye. But, like Kai she didn't let the disappointment get her down and there was great excitement in November when the couple, who went public with their relationship last year, announced that they'd be hitting the road on their Once Upon A Time tour, which they are billing as 'the most glasm,oprous show yet' and the 'on stage romance you don't want to miss.'
Kai and Nadiya have been busy in tour rehearsals for the last month and, after giving their social media followers a behind the scenes insight into how things were going last week, the two have now wrapped up their preparations and are counting down to opening night in Portsmouth on Monday
Sharing a photo of him and Nadiya together with the rest of the Once Upon a Time cast on Instagram, Kai wrote: "The dream team. Our final days in a dance studio are done, now time to put this show on the road. Not long now -4days."
The psty got a big reaction from fans and fellow Strictly stars, with Strictly finalist Fleur East wring: "Woo can’t wait to see you all in action!" Another 2022 finalist, Carlos Gu, who reached the final four with Molly Rainford, replied: "Good luck Pal, it’s going to be amazing"
*Sign up to get the latest TV and showbiz news straight to your inbox with the Chronicle TV and celebs newsletter. If you can't see the form below, click HERE
- Giovanna Fletcher dines out with Rosie Ramsey at 'hidden' gem as she takes to Newcastle stage
- Denise Welch has A-list guests including Tom Cruise in hysterics at Michael Caine's birthday party
- ITV's Hunt for Raoul Moat lead actor Matt Stokoe is from Durham and has famous other half
- Win tickets for a tour of Emmerdale's famous set
ITV's Grace 'horrifies' viewers with graphic content before watershed
