Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly not happy with Nikita Kuzmin taking part on Celebrity Big Brother.
Although the professional dancer insisted he asked show bosses whether he could take part in the ITV series, they’re not too pleased with his decision.
According to The Mirror, the pro dancer took the ITV gig after he was offered more than triple his Strictly fee.
A source said: ‘Nikita is getting paid more for a few weeks in the CBB house than he does for an entire series of Strictly – Which is 12 hours a day of work, six days a week.
‘But to say Strictly aren’t pleased about him signing up is an understatement.
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly not happy with Nikita Kuzmin taking part on Celebrity Big Brother
Although the professional dancer insisted he asked show bosses whether he could take part in the ITV series, they’re not too pleased with his decision
They concluded: ‘There wasn’t much they could do to stop him, given that dancers are contracted for each series rather than being on a rolling contract.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives of Strictly Come Dancing for comment.
It comes after Nikita spoke with The Sun before he entered the house and revealed that he asked for permission to do the show from his Strictly bosses.
He admitted that he asked for their permission out of respect: ‘Yeah. To be fair, I also asked out of respect. They’re the ones who brought me to this country and gave me all these opportunities. I feel almost like they raised me, in a way.
Before adding ‘They just said to me, “Make us proud.”‘
The twinkle-toed star sparked fears that he was quitting the popular BBC dance show after signing up for Celebrity Big Brother.
Nikita joined Strictly as one of four new professionals in 2021 and has been paired with chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Tilly Ramsay, former Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds and actor Layton Williams during his time on the programme.
According to The Mirror, the pro dancer took the ITV gig after he was offered more than triple his Strictly fee
It comes after Nikita spoke with The Sun before he entered the house and revealed that he asked for permission to do the show from his Strictly bosses before claiming they said to ‘make us proud’
But it is feared he may quit after three years amid claims at the time stating that he had signed up for Celebrity Big Brother, leaving the BBC for its rival ITV in the process.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘This will send the rumour mill into overdrive, with some already suggesting he may not return to Strictly and is instead making the most of being a rising star.
‘He’ll have been selected by CBB producers as an obvious heartthrob who can spice things up in the house — and maybe even spill some secrets from behind the scenes of Strictly.’
MailOnline has contacted a representative for Nikita for comment. The BBC declined to comment.
CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER 2024: MEET THE LINEUP
SHARON OSBOURNE
AGE: 71
FAMOUS FOR: Being a member of the Osbourne family, married to rock legend husband Ozzy as well as being a judge on The X Factor.
GARY GOLDSMITH
AGE: 58
FAMOUS FOR: Being Kate Middleton’s ‘black sheep’ uncle.
EKIN-SU CULCULOGLU
AGE: 29
FAMOUS FOR: Winning Love Island in 2022
COLSON SMITH
AGE: 25
FAMOUS FOR: Playing Craig Tinker in Coronation Street
FERN BRITTON
AGE: 66
FAMOUS FOR: Nineties TV sensation, and acting as Phillip Schofield’s This Morning sidekick.
BRADLEY RICHES
AGE: 22
FAMOUS FOR: Starring in Netflix’s Heartstopper
MARISHA WALLACE
AGE: 38
FAMOUS FOR: Broadway actress and singer, with roles in Dreamgirls and Aladdin
LOUIS WALSH
AGE: 71
FAMOUS FOR: His stint as an X Factor judge following a prestigious career as a music manager to bands like Westlife and Boyzone.
DAVID POTTS
AGE: 30
FAMOUS FOR: Ibiza Weekender
ZEZE MILLZ
AGE: 35
FAMOUS FOR: Social media star
LAUREN SIMON
AGE: 47
FAMOUS FOR: The Real Housewives of Cheshire
LEVI ROOTS
AGE: 65
FAMOUS FOR: One of Dragons’s Den’s biggest success stories.
NIKITA KUZMIN
AGE: 26
FAMOUS FOR: Being a professional on Strictly Come Dancing
