Nikita Kuzmin has shared the heartbreaking news of the loss of his grandfather.
The Strictly Come Dancing star took to Instagram on Wednesday to post a carousel of sweet family photographs of the pair spending quality time together.
His caption read: “Looking at these pictures, my heart is beating so fast, and I’m not sure what to write or how to even begin expressing how much I love you.
“Just memories of when I thought you were the fastest walker in the world and how, when I was a teenager, I was proud of speeding past you, but you still were the quickest grandad in town.
Nikita Kuzmin’s grandfather has sadly passed away
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“But especially how much you always took care of us, no matter what, always there.”
The dancer concluded the post with “Я тебя люблю Дедуля”, which translates as: “I love you, Grandpa.”
Friends and fans were quick to share their condolences and well-wishes in the comments section.
Fellow Strictly star Tasha Ghouri responded with two red heart emojis.
Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin competed together on Strictly in 2025
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BBCTamzin Outhwaite commented: “Love this tribute Nikita. Sad for you darling but you are so loved.”
Strictly musician Tommy Blaize also responded with a heart emoji.
One fan wrote: “I’m so sorry, thinking of you and all the family. Seems like a very special man who was and is without a doubt so very proud of you. Sending you so so much love.”
Another penned: “Sending you strength and a huge hug.” (sic)
“I am so sorry, I am sure he was so very proud of you. Sending lots of love,” a third wrote, while another added: “My condolences.”
“Oh Nikita, hope you’re OK xx,” someone else said. (sic)
The sad news comes just weeks after the star ran the London Marathon to raise money for Diabetes UK.
This week on The Walking Dog Project, Mr Kuzmin opened up about his own battle with diabetes and revealed he was once rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night after temporarily losing his vision.
The dancer, 28, recalled losing five kilos during the worrying ordeal, which led to him being diagnosed with the condition.
He said he feared for his future career in dance at the time, despite still being a teenager.
Nikita Kuzmin and Tilly Ramsay ran the London Marathon together
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However, Mr Kuzmin has since gone on to extraordinary dancing success and has completed four full seasons as a professional dancer on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, famously reaching the grand final with his dance partner, Layton Williams, in 2023.
It was announced in May that the dancer remains part of the professional line-up for 2026, surviving a mass shake-up that resulted in the exits of several of his co-stars.