Nikita Kuzmin admits concern over awkward blunder hours before BBC Strictly live show

Janette Manrara and Nikita Kuzmin

Janette Manrara pointed out Nikita Kuzmin's appearance blunder ahead of BBC Strictly

BBC
Olivia Gantzer

By Olivia Gantzer


Published: 05/10/2024

- 17:12

The Strictly Come Dancing professional made an awkward mistake ahead of Saturday's show

Strictly Come Dancing's 20th series is in full swing, with the much-anticipated Movie Night hitting screens on Saturday evening.

While Nikita Kuzmin may be a seasoned professional in the dance world, he admitted on Friday's It Take Two show that he'd made an awkward mistake which could cause issues on Saturday.


Kuzmin, 26, is dancing in this year's series with hockey star Sam Quek, 35. The pair performed a Charleston last week, achieving a score of 22 from the judges.

While Quek seemed relieved to have the speedy dance behind her, it's been full steam ahead as the couple prepare for Saturday's show, where they will be performing a Paso Doble to Elevation from the Tomb Raider film.

Unfortunately, Kuzmin was already airing a concern over his appearance on Friday evening when he appeared on Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two, looking a little more bronzed than usual.

Opening the interview with the couple, host Janette Manrara couldn't help but point out Kumin's unusual fashion choice.

Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin

Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin performed a Charelston in last week's BBC Strictly

BBC

"Now normally the first question would go to you, Sam, but I need to talk about Nikita's tan for a second - what's going on here?" the 40-year-old remarked.

As the pair laughed, the presenter added: "Did you just get it done?"

"Alright, listen..." Kuzmin began before Manrara joked: "You're going green!"

"I might have given myself a shade too dark, which means that I will need to shower tonight and hopefully look better for tomorrow," Kuzmin explained.

Sam Quek and Nikita Kuzmin

Janette Manrara pointed out Nikita Kuzmin's appearance blunder ahead of BBC Strictly

BBC

"Hopefully you shower every night, but maybe shower extra tonight," Manrara quipped.

"Of course, yeah," Kuzmin replied before Quek cut in to detail: "We were actually in the tan room at the same time and I said, 'Nikita, you can go ahead of me because you're probably a bit faster.'

"And then I had a conversation that it's probably best to get a tan after this show... I've still got to go and get mine, but that's an interesting shade."

"It's against the white," Kuzmin noted, alluding to his striking white blazer.

Nikita Kuzmin

Nikita Kuzmin explained he'd gone a shade too dark while tanning ahead of BBC Strictly

BBC

"Yeah, the white also doesn't help," Manrara admitted.

Moving on to the couple's Movie Week alter-egos, Manrara shared: "Sam, you've got a bit of a Lara Croft obsession because you've dressed up as her not once, but twice to fancy dress parties!"

"Mainly because it was comfy shoes and I could wear flat boots!" Quek confessed.

The duo will be dressed up in their Tomb Raider characters on Saturday's show, where they hope to impress the judges as the competition heats up.

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