TILLY Ramsay has laughed off claims she’s got a crush on her dance partner saying: “Lover? He’s more like a big brother!”
TV chef Gordon’s daughter and Nikita Kuzmin set tongues wagging last month when they were pictured leaving an apartment together after Strictly rehearsals.
Reports also later claimed the pair’s closeness raised eyebrows with Nikita’s girlfriend Nicole, who suddenly stopped sharing messages about him on social media.
But the Sun Online can reveal Tilly, 19, has moved to quell rumours they are about to become the latest couple to waltz off together.
“Tilly finds the stories really funny,” our source said of the hearsay. “Lovers? She’s been saying he’s more like a brother.
“Tilly says Nikita is literally the funniest person she’s ever met but there’s nothing at all going on behind the scenes.
“They are too busy having fun and she’s also spoken to his girlfriend a couple of times on Facetime.
“Tilly thinks Nicole’s amazing – an absolutely incredible dancer. She’s been really supportive of them and been wishing them well in private throughout the series.”
Last week we revealed how 23-year-old Nikita’s girlfriend had broken her silence amid growing speculation of his bond with partner Tilly.
Nicole Wirt took to social media after last Saturday’s show to urge people to vote for the pair and keep them on the show.
She also described the duo – who we yesterday revealed have become “inseparable” – as “cuties”.
Her comments came after days of silence on social media which had led to speculation she might be annoyed at her boyfriend’s reported growing friendship with Tilly.
A source said: “Nicole hasn’t said anything for days on social media which raised eyebrows because initially she’d been really supportive of the pair.
“She’s also not been in and around the show as she had her own stuff going on. So speaking out and wishing Nikita and Tilly well is a sign that she’s fully behind them.
“She and Nikita have a strong relationship which often has to cope with long periods apart.”
Tilly and Nikita continue to bask in the glory of a show-stopping performance last weekend which saw them land 34 points for their Charleston.
Dad Gordon Ramsay – watching on – was left in tears.
MEETING THE FAMILY
A show source told Sun Online how Gordon later told the pair backstage he’d “f***ing blown them away” and shook Nikita’s hand.
Tilly has even introduced dance-partner Nikita to her uni-pals – after logging on for lessons during rehearsals.
And as well as regularly inviting Nikita round for tea with her family he’s not met her mates too.
A source said: “Due to Strictly training, Tilly is having to combine uni with dancing but she has been able to successfully mix things up.
“She’s been logging into lessons online from rehearsals and last week took the chance to introduce Nikita to some of her mates.
“It was a bit surreal for everyone else but Tilly is hoping she is going to be part of the show for many more weeks so she thought it was important her uni colleagues got the chance to say hello.
“Since being paired Tilly and Nikita have been inseparable. They’ve probably put in more hours of training than any other couple and have become really good friends.”
STRICTLY CURSE?
Viewers were left wondering whether the infamous Strictly curse struck again. Rumours began to swirl after they were pictured heading to her London flat earlier this week.
The gossip heightened when Nikita’s girlfriend Nicole, 23, deleted a social media message in which she expressed her support for the Strictly Come Dancing pair.
Nicole, also a professional dancer, has been dating the Ukrainian heartthrob, 23, since 2016.She initially seemed proud of the duo when she posted a picture of their waltz from Saturday’s show with the caption: ‘Cheering on my faves.’
But this message has since been removed and instead the dancer, who is based in Germany, wrote on Wednesday: ‘Stop complaining so much over things you can’t change or control.’
Tilly, who has presented her own cookery show on CBBC, scored an average 21 with her debut dance.
Her TV chef dad has already warned her about the Strictly curse – he told her last month: ‘Don’t date those dancers!’
