Strictly's Nick Knowles makes group dance confession (original) (raw)

What did you miss?

Nick Knowles has confessed he thought he was going to be eliminated from Strictly after his first group dance.

The BBC ballroom show is heading into Movie Week, minus Olympic swimmer Tom Dean, who was the first celeb to receive their marching orders. Speaking on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, Knowles said it was "really tough" seeing someone go home.

He also admitted that he doesn't feel "safe" in the contest himself and was "surprised" he hadn't got the boot earlier.

What, how and why?

Knowles was on the show with his pro partner Luba Mushtuk, and host Janette Manrara asked if things were getting "real" now that eliminations were under way.

"I think, to be honest, for those of us that have never had any dance experience at all, I don't think you ever feel that you are safe anyway," Knowles replied. "I was surprised that I didn't go after the first group number to be honest. So to actually still be a part of the thing."

Nick Knowles didn't think he'd make it this far in the contest. (BBC screengrab)

He went on: "To see someone eliminated is really tough, because everybody behind the scenes has become such a lovely family that you have to sort of commiserate with one person and congratulate another at the same time. It's very odd."

What else did Nick Knowles say on Strictly?

Knowles didn't have long to prepare for last weekend's show, as he was recovering after hurting his arm when he stopped to change a tyre, and for a while his performance was hanging in the balance.

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When he and Mushtuk danced it was made clear that the TV star only had about 16 hours to rehearse. However, they managed to score 21 out of a possible 40 for their American Smooth, keeping their place in the competition.

Knowles told Manrara that after they danced he felt "hugely relieved". "Literally, hugely relieved," he laughed. "On the Friday night I couldn't get it, on the Saturday rehearsals I didn't really get it..."

Mushtuk chimed in: "But you did get it on the Saturday night, which is the main event."

Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk on Strictly. (BBC)

For Movie Week, Knowles and Mushtuk will perform a Charleston to Rain On The Roof from Paddington 2. Knowles will be playing Hugh Grant's character from the film and Mushtuk will play Paddington, something the presenter couldn't resist a joke about.

Asked who would be playing the marmalade-loving bear, he joked: "Well I am bear-shaped so, Luba!"

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday.