Strictly’s Nikita Kanda reveals ‘real reason’ she won’t be hit by show’s famous curse
GORGEOUS BBC radio presenter Nikita Kanda says there’s no chance of romance while she stars on Strictly Come Dancing – because so far it’s her mum getting all the attention.
The Asian Network breakfast show host has confessed she’s been inundated with messages about her stunning mother Renu since her family were shown in the BBC audience.
Nikita, 28, laughed: “I think my mum’s got more attention than me at the moment!
“It’s quite funny, all the messages about the fact that she looks so young – they thought that she was my sister.
“There’s been lots of shock about how young she looks but it’s been that way since we were in school, so we’re used to it really.
“On my radio show people were texting in as well, saying ‘Say hi to your mum from me’.”
Nikita has been single for seven years as she juggles her demanding job with 4am starts and TV work on The One Show too.
When she was first announced as part of Strictly’s 2023 cast, Nikita laughed that the show’s so-called relationship curse could perhaps help her find a man.
But she said so far there’s been no eligible candidates sliding into her DMs.
She said: “Nothing! Nothing in my DMs at all!
“But I’m not gonna have time for that anyway, I only get to see my family now on the weekend.
“But I’m used to the routine of getting up early. So I’m up for the breakfast show and then go straight to training after that, because I’m already up, I’m awake. I’ve got energy. I just want to push through the day and then when I get home, I can relax and go to sleep around 10.”
Nikita put her mum centre stage last weekend when she dedicated her dance to Beyonce’s Single Ladies to parents bringing up their kids solo.
She said at the time: “This one is going out to all the single parents out there that have done everything for their kids and I feel like this is like the perfect tribute to my mum.”
Speaking about the touching dedication, Nikita said: “It was so emotional. She didn’t expect me to say all that to her.
“She’s done everything for us. I think she just got really emotional, she’s very touched by it and she was really proud of me.
“She can see how much I’m having fun and growing in confidence.”
Nikita will this weekend dance a jive to Kim Wilde’s Kids in America from the film Clueless for Movie Week.
Elsewhere her partner Gorka Marquez will take the lead as Ken in the professionals’ ensemble dance to Dance The Night Away from blockbuster Barbie, alongside fellow pro Dianne Buswell as the famous blonde.
Nikita laughed: “I mean, Gorka looks great. His outfit looks amazing and he looks exactly like Ryan Gosling in the film!
“Gorka has been a massive help in bringing my confidence out. I’m having the best time.”