Gemma Atkinson reached out to the latest Strictly casualty Nikita Kanda after she became the second celebrity to be eliminated from the show.
Radio presenter Nikita, 28, was booted during Sunday’s dance off when she and pro partner Gorka Marquez had to take on Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima.
After the result, the Strictly Come Dancing Instagram page shared a sweet tribute to the pair, writing: ‘@nikitakanda and @gorka_marquez have become friends for life and they’ve had so much fun during their #Strictly journey! We’re sad to see them leave.’
Gemma, who fell in love with Gorka when she competed on Strictly in 2017, was quick to offer her support, commenting: ‘You did wonderful Nikita.’
Gorka also reached out on Instagram, writing ‘I am proud of you. Thank you.’
Support: Gemma Atkinson reached out to the latest Strictly casualty Nikita Kanda after she became the second celebrity to be eliminated from the show
Axed: Radio presenter Nikita, 28, was booted off during Sunday’s dance off alongside her pro partner and Gemma’s fiancé Gorka Marquez (pictured at Sunday’s Pride Of Britain awards)
Sweet: Gemma, who fell in love with Gorka when she competed on Strictly in 2017, was quick to offer her support, commenting: ‘You did wonderful Nikita’
Kind words: Gorka also reached out on Instagram, writing ‘I am proud of you. Thank you’
Nikita left the show with Gorka , 33, after underwhelming on Saturday’s Movie Night.
Nikita faced Zara in the dreaded dance off, before judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas saved Zara.
Both couples performed their routines again on the show as first up was Zara and her dance partner Graziano Di Prima who performed their Pasodoble to The Puss Suite from Puss In Boots.
Then Nikita and Gorka performed their Jive to Kids In America from Clueless again in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition.
After both couples had danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts:
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Zara and Graziano.
Craig said: ‘The couple I’d like to save had both technique and theatricality, and that couple is Zara & Graziano.’
Motsi Mabuse also chose to save Zara and Graziano, saying: ‘I thought both couples gave it their best, but one couple made a few mistakes that were quite visible, so that’s why I’m saving Zara and Graziano.’
All over: Nikita was the second celebrity to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2023 during Sunday night’s tense results show
Competition: Nikita faced Zara McDermott in the dreaded dance off, before judges Craig Revel Horwood , Motsi Mabuse , Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas saved Zara
Anton Du Beke chose to save them too, explaining: ‘I did think both couples danced better in the dance off.
‘Unfortunately there were a couple of small mistakes from one of the couples, so the couple I would like to save is Zara & Graziano.’
With three votes in favour of Zara and Graziano, they won the majority vote meaning that Nikita and Gorka would be leaving the competition.
Head judge Shirley Ballas also agreed and said she would have decided to save Zara and Graziano.
When asked by Tess about their time on the show, Nikita said: ‘I don’t want to leave yet, I feel like I’ve let him down.
‘I’ve had the best time and I love all my Strictly family, I’m going to miss you all. This has been a dream come true, I’m so grateful.
‘I’ve got to say the biggest thank you to Gorka, he has been the biggest support and I’ve had the best time ever.’
Gorka was then asked by Tess about Nikita overcoming her nerves and how proud he is of her, he said: ‘I am beyond proud of her, for someone that doesn’t have any dance experience or performance experience to come on this show and dance in front of millions of people – for three weeks, I think it’s incredible.
‘You should be very proud of yourself, you have never let me down and I am very proud of you.
‘This show is going to teach you so many things about yourself that you can take with you and I take incredible memories. I’ve never laughed so much in three weeks than I did with you!’
Sunday’s results show also featured the professional dancers taking viewers on a journey to Barbie Land with a performance based on the hit movie of the summer.
Sad: The BBC Asian Network radio host, 28, left the show with her professional partner Gorka Márquez, 33, after underwhelming on Saturday’s Movie Night
Powerful: With three votes in favour of Zara and Graziano, they won the majority vote meaning that Nikita and Gorka would be leaving the competition
In addition, Madison Beer performed Showed Me (How I fell In Love With You) in the ballroom.
The remaining thirteen couples will take to the dance floor next week when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday October 14 at 6:30pm.
The results show will then air on Sunday October 15 at 7:15pm on BBC One.
Nikita and Gorka will be joining Fleur East and Janette Manrara for their first exclusive televised interview live on Strictly: It Takes Two on Monday October 9 at 6:30pm.
Strictly Come Dancing 2023: Who are the couples?
Nigel Harman and Katya Jones
Bobby Brazier and Diane Buswell
Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe
Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice
Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington
Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Lauren Oakley
Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu
Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola
Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk
Jody Cundy and Jowita Przystał
Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin
Nikita Kanda and Gorka Marquez
Les Dennis and Nancy Xu
Eddie Kadi and Karen Hauer
