In a dramatic turn of events on Strictly Come Dancing, professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin has revealed he’s been keeping a close eye on his former celebrity partner, Dani Dyer, after a devastating injury forced her to bow out of the competition. The Love Island 2017 winner fractured her ankle during rehearsals, abruptly ending her Strictly journey on Tuesday, 23 September. However, in a surprising twist, Dyer urged Kuzmin to stop worrying about her and focus on his new partner, fellow Love Island champion Amber Davies, as they raced against time to prepare for the live show.
Speaking on It Takes Two on Monday, 29 September, Kuzmin, 27, couldn’t stop singing Dyer’s praises. “Dani, honestly, she’s such a lovely, lovely human,” he shared, his voice brimming with admiration. “She kept just telling me, ‘Don’t worry about me. I’m okay. Have this beautiful journey with Amber. You deserve it.’” Dyer’s selfless words left fans in awe, showcasing her grace under pressure despite the heartbreak of leaving the show.
With less than 48 hours to prepare, Kuzmin was re-partnered with Amber Davies, another Love Island star who won the reality show in 2017 alongside her then-partner Kem Cetinay. The duo had to pull together a Waltz to Adele’s soul-stirring ballad “When We Were Young” for Saturday’s live performance. Despite the tight timeline, they delivered a heartfelt routine, earning a respectable 27 out of 40 from the judges. However, Davies admitted the pair struggled to perfect the classic toe-and-heel technique essential for the Waltz. “It was a whirlwind,” she confessed on It Takes Two. “We had no time to master the finer details, but we gave it everything.”
Undeterred, Kuzmin remained upbeat about the challenge. “I’m just happy to still be part of the best show on telly,” he said with a grin, adding that he’d “whip out whatever” was needed to keep dancing. His enthusiasm and adaptability have quickly made him a fan favorite, and his chemistry with Davies promises an exciting journey ahead.
Looking forward to their next performance, Davies expressed excitement about hitting the dance floor with a full four days of rehearsal under their belts. “I’ll feel so much more confident,” she said, her eyes sparkling with determination. The pair is now tackling the samba, which Kuzmin dubbed the “hardest dance” in Strictly’s repertoire. “We’re going to shimmy and have fun,” he promised, hinting at a vibrant and energetic routine that’s sure to light up the ballroom.
Davies, hailing from Denbigh, North Wales, brings her own flair to the competition. A seasoned West End performer, she’s starred in hit musicals like 9 to 5 and Pretty Woman. Yet, she admitted that Strictly’s Ballroom and Latin styles are a far cry from her stage experience. “It’s worlds apart from what I did in the West End,” she revealed. “It’s so much harder than I expected, but I’m loving every second of the challenge.”
As Kuzmin and Davies gear up for their next performance, fans are buzzing with anticipation. Will their samba sizzle? And how will they build on their promising debut? One thing’s certain: this dynamic duo is ready to shake up the Strictly dance floor, proving that even a narrow escape from disaster can lead to a dazzling new beginning.