Nikita Kuzmin delighted Strictly Come Dancing viewers on Saturday night when he took to the dancefloor in Blackpool with a unexpected new partner, who was instantly familiar to everyone watching at home.
A firm fan favourite since he joined the show last year, following a successful debut partnership with Tilly Ramsay last year, Nikita was tipped to do rather well in the new series, as he partnered Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds. The pair sailed through the public vote in the first six weeks but then ended up being voted out the first time they landed in the bottom two, losing out in the dance-off to Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.
Ma ny Strictly fans and plenty of Nikita's fellow pro dancers, including reigning champion Giovanni Pernice, hit out at him and Ellie going 'way too early,' as both Nikita and Ellie were left emotional by their exit, with them visibly moved on It Takes Two a day after their Strictly elimination and both posting heartfelt tributes to each other on Instagram.
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Nikita was in the spotlight last week as he and Amy Dowden, voted out earlier this year alongside James Bye, performed to music guests Sheku and Zak, with fans delighting at the two dancing together.
And Nikita was front and centre as Stricrly's long awaited return to Blackpool, started with an energetic opening number to I've Got The Music in Me. All the pros were involved in the full out routine, as well as the celebs and the judges and fans at home loved seeing Nikita take a spin in Blackpool's legendary Tower Ballroom with none other than judge Motsi Mabuse.
Reacting to the surprise pairing on Twitter, one posted: "nikita and motsi absolutely slayed," with another joking: "Motsi would eat Nikita alive."
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