Strictly Come Dancing's Sam Quek reveals secret fall

Even professional partner Nikita Kuzmin did not notice her stumble during her very first performance.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024,14-09-2024,Launch Show,Sam Quek MBE & Nikita Kuzmin,*NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 21:00HRS, SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER, 2024*,BBC Public Service,Guy Levy
Strictly Come Dancing Sam Quek hid her fall even from partner Nikita Kuzmin. (BBC)

Sam Quek revealed she secretly fell during her very first dance on Strictly Come Dancing.

The hockey player and sports TV presenter danced the foxtrot to Where Did Our Love Go by Diana Ross for her dancefloor debut on the show, and made such a good job of hiding her mistake even professional partner Nikita Kuzmin did not notice.

Quek made the confession to Fleur East on Strictly: It Takes Two and Kuzmin admitted his surprise. But the slip-up did not get past judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Strictly Come Dancing 2024,14-09-2024,Generics,Generics,Sam Quek MBE,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Strictly Come Dancing's Sam Quek revealed she hid a stumble during her first dance. (BBC)

Quek and Kuzmin appeared on the BBC Two spin-off show on Tuesday night to discuss their first dance.

Quek told East: "I've never had an experience like it. The nerves in the run up, like I think I was physically shaking during the dance, to then finish it come out unscathed. Although, I took a little bit of a tumble into the stairs."

Kuzmin exclaimed: "Did you? I didn't even realise." Quek continued: "I did just before I finished my solo. I smashed my foot and that's why Craig said I lost balance." Kuzmin reassured her: "It's okay, it's alright."

On the night judge Craig Revel Horwood had told Quek: "You lost a bit of balance as you're fully aware darling, and you'e not completely using your feet. A little lumpy."

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing

Kuzmin revealed that he and Quek would be doing a hockey-themed Charleston this week, which Quek is dreading. Kuzmin revealed: "Sam admitted to me the one dance she is most afraid of is the Charleston." Quek added: "Before he told me we're doing the Charleston!" Kuzmin told her: "One step at a time. I am sure we will get there by Saturday night."

Strictly Come Dancing 2024,14-09-2024,Generics,Generics,Paul Merson,BBC Public Service,Ray Burmiston
Strictly Come Dancing's Paul Merson admitted he feels awkward amidst the glitz of Strictly. (BBC)

Former footballer Paul Merson confessed he is struggling with how showbiz Strictly is, and admitted he feels like a "shy little boy" among the rest of the contestants.

Merson confessed: "That's the bit I find really hard, is the showbizzy bit. Do you know what I mean? I'm used to football. You get on, you put your boots on and get your job done. Like when we walked into the [studio] and everybody's singing Vindaloo upstairs with Claudia, I find that... I'm like a shy little boy, I'm like 'Oh, stop it!'"

But he admitted he had been disappointed by his low scores. He said: "I was a bit gutted with my two. I thought I was getting two for putting my shoes on!"

Merson and Karen Hauer revealed they will be dancing a Salsa to Pitbull's Fireball. Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec revealed they will be dancing the Viennese Waltz to Misty Blue, by Dorothy Moore.

Strictly: It Takes Two airs on BBC Two at 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One at 6.15pm on Saturday.