Strictly pro Nikita Kuzmin's 'tears' over Dani Dyer partnership
They're reunited!Nikita Kuzmin cried with joy after learning Dani Dyer would again be his Strictly Come Dancing partner.
The Strictly 2026 pairings were revealed during Saturday night’s launch show.
The dancer admitted the Dani Dyer reunion sparked an unexpectedly emotional reaction.
“When they announced both of us being together, my right eye was having tears of joy,” he said on the show.
He joked that he could not explain why his left eye stayed dry.
The reunion also spared Nikita from seeing Dani begin the competition alongside another professional. He admitted he had “worried” about that possibility and would have felt jealous.
For Nikita, their unfinished partnership still mattered. He considered Dani his partner, despite last year’s abrupt interruption.
Dani, meanwhile, had repeatedly warned him that the show might not reunite them.
Dani Dyer gets her second Strictly chance
Dani’s return carries extra meaning after a fractured ankle ended her 2025 Strictly attempt during rehearsals.
She described that departure as devastating. Now, she is excited to resume the pairing and experience another run on the programme.
Dani said she never assumed the programme would match them again. Her immediate reaction to the announcement was: “I just didn’t think they would!”
The restored partnership offers both dancers the chance to pick up after last year’s setback.
Dani Dyer names the dance she wants
Dani loved dancing as a child, although she offered a modest verdict on her current ability: “I’m alright.”
She also joked that friends struggle to remove her from the stage after a few drinks.
The cha-cha-cha sits highest on her wish list. That lively Latin routine is one milestone to watch as the new season gets moving.
The reality star, whose father is actor Danny Dyer, said her family are excited to watch.
Their support will follow Dani throughout the coming weeks as she finally gets another opportunity in the ballroom.
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 line-up
Dani joins actresses Melanie Walters, Lacey Turner, Jaime Winstone and Bethany Antonia in the 2026 celebrity cast.
Australian singer Delta Goodrem and celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton are also competing.
Former England footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips appears alongside Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey and Olympian Tabby Stoecker.
The field also includes Love Island winner Cach Mercer, presenter Will Best and sports content creator John Nellis.
Dog trainer and presenter Graeme Hall, known as The Dogfather, joins Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday evenings on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series is scheduled to continue until December 19.
For Dani and Nikita, the immediate focus is making their renewed partnership count on the dance floor. The cha-cha-cha remains Dani’s most anticipated dance.
Strictly Come Dancing continues at 6.15pm on BBC One on Saturday September 26, 2026.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
