BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Tom Dean admits 'nerves' ahead of first live performance

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Tom Dean was left "nervous" earlier this week ahead of his first routine with Nadiya Bychkova on the BBC show.

Tom, 24, was supported by his dance partner Nadiya, 35, at the BMW PGA Championship's Celebrity Pro-Am held at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey on Wednesday. The annual event sees professional golfers teamed up with celebrities.

Olympic freestyle swimmer Tom was on a team with golfer Matt Wallace, professional footballer Jordan Pickford and football coach Robbie Fowler. The group's rivals included comedian Michael McIntyre and TV presenter Dan Walker.

Following the event, Tom shared photos on Instagram and wrote about the experience. He said in the caption: "What a day, what a team! Dream course ticked off and what better event to do it at. Thank you [BMW PGA Championship]."

And he shared a photo on his Instagram Story of himself mid-swing and teased to his followers that it didn't show how nervous he was feeling in the contest. Alongside the photo, he wrote: "The picture doesn't show the nerves..."

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His dance partner Nadiya had been in the crowd at the event and posted about the experience. Her post included photos of her beside Tom, and others showed her with Dan, 47, whom she was partnered with on Strictly back in 2021.

She wrote on the platform: "Amazing day @bmwpga with my Strictly partner [Tom]. Got to see some golf magic and meet some lovely people. Great catch up with [Dan] walked few holes and been entertained by one and only [Michael] …and got new @gfore shoes." She added: "What a day! I love golf."

Nadiya - who has posted about her love for the sport on several occasions on social media - was announced as Tom's dance partner in the pre-recorded Strictly launch last week. They've since been rehearsing for the first live show.

The pair will take to the dancefloor on Saturday night with a tango set to Harry Styles' song Golden. They aren't the only couple doing that style of dance in the first live show as singer Toyah Willcox and her dance partner Neil Jones will perform the same one, but to Madonna's Ray of Light.

After the details of their routine were announced, Nadiya told her followers: "Finally we can talk about the dance and it's a tango. I love tango. I loved teaching [Tom] tango." The professional dancer teased: "It was all about Tango Tom for the last 2 weeks and now I can't wait for you all to see it!"

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday night from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and there won't be a results show on Sunday this week.

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