Strictly Come Dancing's Nikita Kuzmin couldn't hold back his emotions as he paid a heartfelt tribute to his celebrity partner, Layton Williams, during an emotional semi-final episode of the popular dance competition.
Two Routines for a Spot in the Final
The remaining four couples on Strictly performed two routines each on tonight's live show, all vying for a chance to make it through to next week's highly anticipated final.
After the couples completed their second routine, host Claudia Winkleman asked each celebrity's professional partner why they deserved to be in the final three.
Nikita's Emotional Tribute
When it was Layton's turn, Nikita Kuzmin became visibly emotional from the start, especially after receiving a perfect score of 40 for their incredible Charleston performance.
With his arm around Layton, Nikita said, "Ooh, an emotional question, and I'm already an emotional girl. I know he makes it seem easy, but you are the most hardworking person I've been in the room with."
He went on to praise Layton's ability to bring joy to everyone, regardless of what's happening in their personal lives. As Nikita struggled to hold back tears, he said, "But especially… I see you cry, you're making me cry… but you make me shine with how much you are shining."
Expressing his deep bond with Layton, Nikita added, "Honestly, you're one of my best friends, and this is just so special. I would love to have my first final with you."
The pair shared a heartfelt hug, while fans of Strictly took to social media to discuss the emotional moment.
Fans' Reactions
Viewers were moved by Nikita's tribute, with one fan writing, "Aw, Nikita, you sweet bean."
Another fan tweeted, "Nikita saying 'you make me shine' to Layton, I burst into tears."
A third fan expressed their admiration for the partnership, saying, "Proper tears for Layton and Nikita, maybe my favorite partnership of all time, and definitely one of the most special. Their friendship has been such a joy to watch all series, and I so hope that's enough to make the final."
Many fans shared their love and support for Nikita and Layton, with one fan stating, "I'm in tears, you guys. Epic, amazing, inspiring, and so much more. No words. All the love in the world for Nikita and Layton."
Leading the Leaderboard
Nikita and Layton ended the show at the top of the leaderboard after tonight's scores were combined with last week's scores.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.
