Strictly star Ellie Simmonds compares exit to "heartbreak"

Strictly Come Dancing spoilers follow.

Ellie Simmonds has said her elimination from Strictly Come Dancing is “a bit like a heartbreak”.

The swimmer, who was partnered with Nikita Kuzmin, exited the show after being defeated by Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu in Sunday night’s (November 6) dance off.

What to read next

Appearing on It Takes Two with host Rylan Clark, Ellie described the moment she realised they were in the bottom two as “horrible”, saying: “We were so shocked. We don’t want anybody to be in the dance off.

“When we saw that red light was on us and Molly and Carlos, who are absolutely incredible, it was so sad.”

ellie simmonds and nikita kuzmin on strictly come dancing, week 4

BBC

Ellie, who departed the show on her highest scoring dance, continued by comparing the elimination to “heartbreak.”

“I’ve found [since my exit] that it’s like coming out of a heartbreak. Strictly is everything, and it’s been the most incredible time. I’ve been doing it for seven weeks and now it’s all over all of a sudden.”

Speaking about Saturday’s routine, which saw the pair score 33 points for the Charleston, Nikita said the moment was “bittersweet”, before adding that he was “proud” of his partner.

nikita kuzmin, ellie simmonds, strictly come dancing 2022

BBC

After viewing a montage of their time on the show, the pair were visibly emotional, with Ellie thanking numerous people as well as her dance partner.

“The Strictly experience has been everything to me. Everyone from the professionals to the celebrities, everybody working backstage, make-up and hair, costuming has [been amazing],” said Ellie.

“Nikita is the best. What he’s done with our choreography; he’s realised everybody can dance and adapted it to me. It shows that choreographers can do anything, with dwarfism or any other disability. [He’s] changed people’s lives.”

Nikita was similarly thankful for the experience, saying: “It’s a little bit difficult to talk right now, but I’m really grateful to have had every single second with Ellie. [She] makes me so much better as a person. It’s been one of the best times of my life.”

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One, while spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows also stream on BBC iPlayer.