Strictly Come Dancing’s Ellie Simmonds thanked her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin for helping her ‘adapt’ to their routines after being the latest to exit the competition.
The Paralympian found herself in the dreaded dance-off despite receiving her highest score of the series with her lively Charleston to Kiss Me Kat ‘s Too Darn Hot.
It was the end of the road for Ellie and Nikita, after judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke opted to save Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.
During Monday’s It Takes Two, Ellie hailed pro Nikita as ‘the best.’
‘What he’s done for my choreography, he realised everyone can dance and has adapted it to me,’ he told host Rylan Clark.
‘But it shows that choreographers out there can do anything with dwarfism and any different disability.’
Turning to Nikita, she added: ‘You’ve changed people’s lives, he has.’
When presenter Tess Daly asked her about her experience on the show, a teary Ellie said: ‘I’ve literally had the time of my life. It’s been the most incredible experience – life changing really,’ she said.
‘I want to thank Nikita ever so much. I’m going to miss him – he’s changed my life and confidence. And all of you guys – the pros. Every single one of you who’ve been part of this Strictly. Behind closed doors, the costume designers, I’ve literally loved waking up every single day and dancing, I’m going to dance forever. It’s incredible, this show is life changing. He’s [Nikita] changed my life. We’ve had the most amazing days.’
An emotional Nikita went on: ‘First of all make me speak first next time because I am crying!
‘I am a bit disappointed as I wanted Ellie to have a bit more time on this TV show, I know how much it means to her. I’m really happy that this journey has been with you [Ellie] because she has taught me so so much, so much empathy, just so much, I’ve learnt so much in these seven weeks.’
Strictly It Takes Two returns tomorrow at 6:30pm on BBC Two.
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