Nick Knowles reveals exact weight loss during Strictly Come Dancing training as he praises ‘wonderful’ Luba Mushtuk
NICK Knowles has revealed his exact weight loss during his “tough” Strictly Come Dancing training sessions.
The DIY SOS anchor was quick to heap praise on his “wonderful” celebrity partner as he told how she was “the perfect combination of incredibly brilliant and incredibly patient.”
Nick, 61, appeared on Thursday’s episode of ITV daytime show Lorraine by performing a mini routine.
And while he told how getting to grips with ballroom and Latin routines had been a struggle, he admitted seeing benefits in his body.
Host Lorraine Kelly gushed how he had “already won” courtesy of having Russian Luba, 34, as a professional partner.
Nick told of their rehearsals and said: “It was tough to start with because I have never done anything like this at all.
“I was a flat footed rugby player for years.
“But little by little she [Luba] has made this 18-stone man a little lighter on his feet.”
Lorraine then asked for the details of his weight loss, to which the BBC favourite revealed it was “13 kilos, so far.”
Talk then turned to Strictly’s new chaperone policy.
It came into being after Giovanni Pernice, 33, quit the BBC show earlier this year.
Previously, Sherlock star Amanda told the Lorraine show she had flagged concerns about the Italian’s conduct on the very first week.
His exit came as he is currently under investigation by the BBC over misconduct after complaints were filed by several of his former celebrity dance partners – claims he strongly denies.
The same investigation also saw his fellow Italian professional Graziano Di Prima axed after allegations of “physical incidents” towards show partner Zara McDermott, 27.
Luba told the show: “It’s wonderful to have someone in the room.
Strictly 2024 pairings
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Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
“It’s wonderful. Sometimes I like to film the routine to take some notes, so it’s great to have someone in the room.”
Nick told how the wider backstage team were “very kind and supportive” and how he had received all the physical and psychological help needed.
Yet referring to the complaints submitted to the investigation, he added: “It’s important people have been listened to going forward.”
Last month, Nick told how he had been in the gym and on a strict diet to prepare for the dance show.
Earlier this year, he cruelly compared himself to a “whale” as he joked about his weight.