Nikita Kuzmin sent fans into hysterics on Sunday evening’s Strictly Come Dancing results show after admitting to a huge blunder.
The 26-year-old was chatting to host Claudia Winkleman along with the other couples who had just secured a place in the next show, but the Ukrainian-Italian dancer was soon left red-faced. Addressing the awkward moment on It Takes Two, the choreographer explained how “disaster” had almost struck.
Winkleman, 52, had asked Kuzmin to explain what he and celebrity partner Sam Quek, 35, would be dancing to this week.
He cheerfully exclaimed they’d be taking on a samba to a Shakira classic.
The lively dancer then animatedly began to sing the classic 2001 tune Whenever, Wherever – which sparked most of the group to join in.
The room fell into chaos as the stars began to dance and join in with the lyrics, but Kuzmin had actually got it wrong.
Nikita’s Strictly blunder almost caused ‘disaster’ on the BBC show
BBC
When things eventually calmed down, Winkleman had to break some bad news, announcing: “Nikita, I love you so much… But it was the other Shakira song…”
As he placed his hands to his face, the host continued by probing: “How does that go?”
A sheepish Nikita replied by singing “Hips Don’t Lie,” as his co-stars cracked up.
During Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, host Janette Manrara couldn’t help but remind him of the funny mistake – but it was even worse than viewers initially thought.
Nikita Kuzmin was left red-faced as he realised his mistake on Sunday’s Strictly
BBC
After playing the hilarious clip, Manrara added: “But wait – what was worse than that is you then went on your socials and you posted this,” before she read Kuzmin’s tweet aloud: “The thing is, I already started choreography to the song”.
Manara pleaded: “Please tell me that’s not true, did you actually?”
“Yeah,” he replied, looking embarrassed before adding: “That’s tough Janette because that is true…”
“It’s true? Oh my gosh,” the former Strictly pro commented before asking: “Did you have to go back and redo it?”
Nikita Kuzmin credited Claudia Winkleman to preventing ‘disaster’ on Strictly Come Dancing
BBC
“Well, not really because it’s kind of still the samba – luckily for me though, because without Claudia it would have been a big disaster, as Craig [Revel Horwood] would say.
“So yeah quite fun, but not-so fun at the same time…”
“Even today, he’s still singing the wrong song!” Quek revealed, prompting a concerned Manrara to warn him: “Nikita – stick to the counting!”