Nikita Kuzmin on tough Strictly training as Ellie couldnt get it

Strictly: Nikita Kuzmin admits it's been a 'hard week'

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Last Friday, Strictly Come Dancing fans watched as Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds was partnered with Nikita Kuzmin for this year’s series. Although they impressed the judges with their first routine, the contestant has opened up about the challenges she’s faced this week.

On Thursday’s instalment of This Morning, hosts Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield welcomed Strictly stars Ellie and Nikita onto the show.

The dancing duo told viewers that this upcoming Saturday they’d be tackling the Waltz after their impressive Cha Cha Cha earned them a score of 28 from the judges.

Although the Paralympian, who was born with achondroplasia, the most common cause of dwarfism, exuded confidence during her first live show, she touched on the challenges for this week.

Speaking to the ITV presenters on their morning show, Ellie told them although she’s enjoying every second, this week has been tough.

Turning to her partner, the 27-year-old said: “It has been challenging, hasn’t it?”

Nikita agreed as he said: “Not going to lie, this has been a really hard week, a really hard week in the beginning.

“But, I can say proudly that I got Ellie to smile yesterday evening! So that was a good result, we can finally start smiling and enjoying it so that’s good.”

Touching on the training this week, the Strictly celeb told Phil and Holly that she really struggled to pick up the steps.

She confessed: “I just couldn’t get it! On Monday and Tuesday, I kept seeing you doing it and I was trying to do it. I’d get one move and then I couldn’t remember the next move.”

Despite the tough week, the Paralympian shared that they’ve been having a lot of fun while training from nine in the morning until six in the evening.

This Morning host Phillip questioned Nikita on what adaptations he’s had to make this year to accommodate to his partner.

He replied: “Realistically, it’s quite a lot but at the same time we still have the same technique, we still have the same basic rules.”

Touching on Ellie taking part in this year’s series, the Strictly pro shared that the show is doing something really special as he’s enjoying thinking outside of the box for their routines.

Nikita added: “Obviously there is quite a lot to do with the hold so the ballroom hold, the stride as well.

“Usually, you have to have the same average size of stride, now we have to figure out how we’re going to move around the challenge, especially in the ballroom dance.

“I think it’s such a beautiful thing we’re doing.

“For me as a creative person and a choreographer, it’s just something really beautiful and makes you think outside of the box, it’s brilliant.”

Currently, Ellie and Nikita are seventh on the leaderboard with a total of 26, the same as Countryfile star Helen Skelton.

At the top end of the scoreboard, actor Will Mellor and Hamza Yassin are joint first with a total of 34 while football legend Tony Adams is in last place with a total of 15.

However, their scores from week one will be added to their routines this upcoming week which means the current leaderboard will change.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday on BBC One at 6:30pm.

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