Nikita Kuzmin has opened up about his emotional reaction to being partnered with Dani Dyer again on Strictly Come Dancing, admitting he was worried she could have been paired with someone else.
The Strictly Come Dancing ballroom has brought Nikita Kuzmin and Dani Dyer back together, and the professional dancer has revealed just how much the reunion meant to him.
Kuzmin and Dyer have been paired once again for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing after their previous partnership was cut short when the reality star suffered an ankle fracture during rehearsals.
Their second chance has already created plenty of excitement among Strictly fans, with Kuzmin admitting that he was genuinely emotional when he discovered they would be dancing together again.
Nikita Kuzmin Reveals His Emotional Reaction
Speaking about the moment their partnership was confirmed, Kuzmin said he experienced what he described as “tears of joy”.
The professional dancer explained that he was extremely happy to find out Dyer would once again be his celebrity partner.
His reaction was particularly heartfelt because their previous Strictly journey ended prematurely. Dyer had been forced to leave last year’s competition after fracturing her ankle during rehearsals.
For Kuzmin, getting another opportunity to compete alongside her appears to have made the announcement particularly special.
Nikita Admits He Would Have Been Jealous
Kuzmin also gave fans an amusing insight into just how invested he was in their partnership.
The dancer admitted that he would have felt jealous if Dyer had been paired with another professional this year.
He explained that he was concerned she could be given to someone else and joked about how difficult it would have been to watch his former partner dancing with another professional.
The comments have added a playful side to what was otherwise an emotional Strictly reunion.
Dani Dyer Was ‘Devastated’ to Leave Last Year
Dani Dyer has also spoken about the disappointment of having to withdraw from Strictly last year.
The former Love Island winner said she was “devastated” when her injury ended her run in the competition.
However, the prospect of returning to the ballroom with Kuzmin has clearly changed the mood.
Dyer said she was extremely excited when she learned that she and Kuzmin would be partnered again.
She had apparently tried to convince him that the show’s producers would not put them back together, making the eventual announcement even more surprising.
Dani Dyer Opens Up About Her Dancing
Despite her reality television background, Dyer has admitted that she is not necessarily taking her dancing ability for granted.
She revealed that she enjoyed dancing when she was younger and believes she can hold her own on the dance floor.
In a typically light-hearted comment, Dyer joked that she becomes particularly enthusiastic when she is out with friends.
The celebrity has also revealed that the cha-cha-cha is the dance she is most looking forward to performing during the competition.
That will give Strictly viewers an early opportunity to see how the returning contestant has developed since her previous attempt.
Her Family Is Excited to Watch Her
Dyer’s Strictly return is also a big moment for her family.
The reality star, who is the daughter of former EastEnders actor Danny Dyer, said her relatives are excited to watch her compete over the coming weeks.
With her previous Strictly experience ending through injury, her return gives her the opportunity to finish what she started.
Her partnership with Kuzmin also gives the pair a familiar foundation as they prepare for another run in the BBC dance competition.
Who Is Taking Part in Strictly Come Dancing 2026?
Dyer and Kuzmin are part of a celebrity line-up featuring personalities from entertainment, sport, music and television.
The 2026 cast includes actress Lacey Turner, former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, singer Delta Goodrem, actress Melanie Walters, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and Love Island winner Cach Mercer.
Presenter Will Best, Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey, actresses Jaime Winstone and Bethany Antonia, dog trainer Graeme “The Dogfather” Hall, Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, Olympian Tabby Stoecker and sports content creator John Nellis are also taking part.
When Is Strictly Come Dancing on TV?
Strictly Come Dancing continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the 2026 series running through December 19.
For Dani Dyer, the competition represents a fresh opportunity after last year’s injury setback. For Nikita Kuzmin, meanwhile, being reunited with his former partner has already produced one of the more emotional moments of the new series.
With the pair now back on the dance floor together, Strictly fans will be watching closely to see how far Dani Dyer and Nikita Kuzmin can go this time around.
The source of this news is The Standard.