Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova cosies up to celeb partner Tom Dean in new snaps after sparking romance rumours last month

Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova cosied up to her celebrity partner Tom Dean in new Instagram snaps on Tuesday, after the pair sparked romance rumours last month.

The professional dancer, 35, is said to have been enjoying lunch dates with the Olympic swimmer, 24, who has been her 'rock' since her breakup with fellow Strictly pro Kai Widdrington last July.

Now, further fuelling the speculation, Nadiya shared new photos of her and Tom as the pair returned to rehearsals at Elstree ahead of appearing in Saturday's final of the BBC show, alongside the rest of the cast.

The Ukranian beauty looked effortlessly stunning in a white cropped vest top and black figure-hugging sports leggings as she wrapped her around the swimmer.

She allowed her blonde tresses to fall over her shoulders in a natural wavy style and accessorised with silver hoop earrings and a glowy palette of makeup.

Meanwhile, Tom cut a casual figure in an all-black ensemble made up of an Under Armour T-shirt and joggers. 

He looked to be on cloud nine as he placed his hand on Nadiya's waist for the snaps, before gazing into her eyes. 

The dancer wrote in her caption: 'Team Golden Reunion. Look who is back to @bbcstrictly. Please welcome my celebrity partner 3 time Olympic Champion @tomdean00. Great to see you partner. Let’s do some dancing now.'

Fans were elated to see the duo together again and rushed to the comments to write: 'The reunion of dreams!!! super excited for some more team golden this weekend.'

'So happy to see you both back together, should never have been first eliminated.'

'This makes my heart so happy, the bestest team!!! Love you both so so much.'

'There was no way you should have gone out first. You were so robbed.' 

'Aww so good to see you back together!'

'woooooo, you guys went waaayyy too early!! but I'm so excited to see you guys back in the studio on Saturday!!'

'Gorgeous photos, can’t wait to see you dancing together again…' 

It was reported last month that Nadiya - who split from Kai, 29, last July - has already met some of Tom's family and recently joined him and his sister Connie for dinner at Bocconcino restaurant in London's Mayfair.

It's not just Nadiya who is single again as Tom recently called off his relationship with his longterm girlfriend Charlotte Phillips.

Sources close to London-born Tom told MailOnline the relationship had been on the rocks for some time due to the pair 'drifting apart' and insist Nadiya was not a factor.

An insider told The Sun: 'Nadiya and Tom have comforted each other following their break-ups.

'Nadiya and Tom were both gutted that they didn't go further in the competition, but have been able to get to know each other away from the dancefloor.'

'Nadiya has always said that Tom is a complete gentleman. He's been a rock to her since she split from Kai.'

The dance partners have been seen attending various events together, including the Pride of Britain Awards as part of their Strictly commitments.

Tom became the first celebrity to leave Strictly this year after losing his place in the competition to Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones, who were voted off the following week.

He admitted to feeling 'genuinely shocked' and 'gutted' after receiving the fewest number of votes from the public and waltzing off the show in week one.

Tom last posted a photo of Lottie on Instagram back in August, where they snuggled together in an office lift.

He regularly shared an insight into the couple's relationship online such as holidays they shared together and an image from his welcome home party following the Paris Olympics, which featured Lottie. 

But the executive had been absent from his Instagram for months while Tom continued to post about his Strictly pairing with Nadiya.

They attended October's Pride of Britain Awards and last week enjoyed a lunch event together at The Waterside Inn, where a host of chefs cooked them 'incredible food.'

Tom commented on a post Nadiya shared of the pair: 'What an afternoon. Best food and best company.'

The three-time Olympic gold medallist was Nadiya's first Strictly partner in a year after she wasn't given a celebrity for the first time in 2023.

She was paired with singer Matt Goss in 2022 and the year before starred alongside former BBC Breakfast Show host Dan Walker, of whom she remains close friends.

In October, Nadiya revealed she 'isn't friends' with ex-boyfriend and Strictly colleague Kai.

Speaking to The Mirror at the Pride Of Britain Awards, Nadiya revealed that she and Kai are still working on Strictly, and they'll always keep things professional when they dance together.

Asked whether she and Kai are still friends, Nadiya said: 'We work together but we are not friends and that's OK.

'One thing I can tell you is that when you see me dancing with him it will be amazing because I'm a professional.'

Nadiya also reflected on her early exit from this year's Strictly after she and Olympian Tom were the first pair to be voted off the show.

She added: 'It's never nice to leave early. Tom and I have had so much support from people and I get the feeling that the viewers wanted to see what he was capable of and so did I. Someone had to go and it's just a shame it was Tom.'

'We are going to keep dancing though. I am going to teach him a salsa with some big lifts. Not for TV, just so he can see he can be brilliant.'