Strictly professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin has been forced to pull out of the live arena tour at the last minute after testing positive for Covid.
The professional dancer, who partnered with Tilly Ramsay in the latest series of Strictly and was set to dance with her on the nationwide tour, shared the news on Instagram on Thursday, after withdrawing before the first live date in Birmingham that night.
Nikita reassured fans that he hopes to be back on tour 'as soon' as possible.
Out: Strictly professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin has been forced to pull out of the live arena tour at the last minute after testing positive for Covid
'So sad to be missing a portion of the Strictly Live Tour, but unfortunately I tested positive for COVID-19,' he wrote under a photo of himself and Tilly and some grumpy selfies.
'Lots of luck to all the amazing Strictly cast... Will be back as soon as I can'.
Nikita's Strictly co-stars offerered their supports in the comments, with his partner Tilly writing: 'Missing you' alongside a heart emoji.
Nikita was not at the tour's photocall on Thursday afternoon, with Tilly forced to pose for solo pics while her fellow celebs parternered up.
Positive: Nikita was pictured heading back to his hotel shortly before he tested positive on Thursday
The tour had already been forced to change its line-up after 2021 show finalist AJ Odudu has to pull out of the live dates when the foot injury, which led to her earlhy exit from the TV series, continued to cause problems.
Instead EastEnders actress and 2020 series contestant Maisie Smith stepped in to partner AJ's pro dancer Kai Widdrington.
They will also be joined on tour by John Whaite and Johannes Radebe as well as Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, from the 2021 series.
