Ellie Simmonds compares Strictly Come Dancing exit to end of relationship

Ellie Simmonds has compared her 'Strictly Come Dancing' exit to "heartbreak".

The 27-year-old former Paralympian swimmer – who was the first person with dwarfism to compete on the BBC One Latin and ballroom show - was eliminated alongside her pro partner Nikita Kuzmin during Sunday night's (06.11.22) result show.

Discussing her "horrible" departure on Monday's episode of 'It Takes Two' she told host Rylan Clark: "I’ve found [since my exit] that it’s like coming out of 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.”

Ellie admitted she and Nikita were "so shocked" when they found themselves in the bottom two with Molly Rainford and her pro partner Carlos Gu.

She added: "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.”

On Saturday's show (04.11.22), Ellie scored 33 points for her Charleston, and Nikita has now admitted the moment was "bittersweet", while still voicing his pride.

Responding to an emotional montage of their time in the competition, Ellie said: "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].

“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.”

And Nikita added: “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.”