Strictly’s Nikita cuddles up to Tilly and Maisie after dropping out of tour

The dance professional was spotted larking around with 2021 dance partner Tilly and ex-EastEnders star Maisie as they took time out from the Strictly Live Tour in Sheffield

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Maisie Smith performs TikTok dance with Nikita Kuzmin

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer has been cuddling up to his 2021 dance partner Tilly Ramsay and former contestant Maisie Smith while the three hung out during a break in the show’s current UK tour.

The cast and stars of Strictly are currently wowing live audiences up and down the country as part of the 2022 Strictly Live Tour – which has incorporated stars from both the 2020 and 2021 series of the hit BBC dance show.

The tour bus has trundled into Sheffield where the stars have been enjoying time away from the stage between shows.

Nikita, 24, had been forced to miss some of the live shows after testing positive for Covid-19, but is now back in action and closer than ever with 20-year-old Tilly.

The duo looked slightly alarmed as they stood incredible close together while seemingly dead in their tracks while out in Sheffield.

Snaps of the moment have circulated online – with even Tilly herself asking followers on Instagram Stories: “What did we just see”? as she highlighted the moment to her followers.

While Nikita also got close to 20-year-old ex-EastEnders star Maisie with the pair almost embracing while they stood around in the chilly afternoon air.

The trio were also spotted laughing, larking and joking around as they wandered around the English city.

Nikita drew further attention as he paraded around in a garish animal print faux fur coat and donned a bucket hat and highly reflective sunglasses.

The ladies too were dressed for winter – with Tilly wrapped up in a puffy coat and simple beanie hat, while Maisie donned a puffy coat, gloves and a pair of earmuffs.

Meanwhile, Nikita appears to be keen to highlight the fact that he is very much in a loving relationship with professional dancer girlfriend Nicole Wirt.

After sharing a string of videos and photos of himself with Tilly on his Instagram Stories, the Ukranian hunk added a snap of himself posing alongside Nicole in a snowy landscape near the Krimml Waterfalls in Austria.

The photo was linked to Nicole’s own Instagram page – where she suggested she is most content when she is just left alone in nature with Nikita at her side.

Nicole uploaded a string of snaps to her own main feed, showing her in thick, quilted, winter clothing and trudging through the snow beside a wooden fence.

Nikita joined her for two snaps – showing him with his arm around her while they perched on the side of the fence.

She wrote: “When the world seems to be so quite, your problems don’t seem to matter and you are just left there with the feeling of being alive and present with every cell of your body in that moment.”

On the dancefloor, Nikita was forced to cancel a number of appearances after testing positive for Covid.

Announcing the news via his social media outlets at the time, Nikita told fans: “So sad to be missing a portion of the Strictly Live Tour, but unfortunately I tested Positive for COVID-19.

“Lots of luck to all the amazing Strictly Cast. Will be back as soon as I can :)”

However, over the weekend, he and Tilly were reunited and ready to dance away as he recovered from the virus, was free from isolation, and able to re-join the tour.

Sharing a snap of himself alongside his dance partner and friend, Nikita wrote on Saturday: “Backstage vibezzz! Finally a tour picture together @tillyramsay can’t wait to perform for you tonight.”