Nikita Kuzmin Expresses Heartbreak Over Dani Dyer’s Exit from Strictly

Professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin has expressed his profound disappointment following the departure of his celebrity partner, Dani Dyer, from the current season of Strictly Come Dancing. Dyer, 29, announced on September 23, 2025, that she would withdraw from the competition due to an ankle injury sustained during rehearsals.

The announcement was made on the official BBC One Instagram account, stating, “Unfortunately due to an injury Dani Dyer is no longer able to compete in #Strictly 2025. She’ll be sorely missed and we wish her a speedy recovery,” accompanied by a heart emoji. Dyer explained her situation in a personal statement, detailing that she had fallen during a rehearsal on Friday, which led to a significant swelling over the weekend. After an MRI scan, it was confirmed that she had fractured her ankle.

In her heartfelt note, Dyer remarked, “Apparently doing the Quickstep on a fracture is not advisable (!!) and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance, so I’ve had to pull out of the show.” She conveyed her heartbreak, stating, “To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement. I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.”

Following this news, Kuzmin took to Instagram to share his feelings about the unexpected end to their partnership. He posted several pictures and videos from their rehearsals, writing, “So so gutted to have finished our journey before it even properly started. The amount of laughs and fun we had in this short time was unbelievable!”

Kuzmin expressed his admiration for Dyer, noting, “Really loved our partnership and hope that one day we can actually get to week 1 lol but health is the most important thing.” He added, “I’m wishing you the absolute best @danidyerxx; you’re so lovely, positive, and a wonderful human being! It breaks my heart knowing how excited you were to do your absolute best on the show! Hopefully, we can pick up next year.”

Fans of the duo expressed their disappointment in the comments section of Kuzmin’s post. One user remarked, “Absolutely gutted. Was really looking forward to Team Danita getting to the final! I hope you both get a round 2 next year!” Another fan added, “Absolutely gutted for you both! Hope Dani has a speedy recovery and you both get to dance together again soon!”

As the current season of Strictly Come Dancing continues, viewers will miss the chemistry and promise that Kuzmin and Dyer brought to the competition. The show remains available for viewing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.