It has been a whirlwind Strictly Come Dancing journey for Nick Knowles.
Broken arms and bad scores aside, his professional dance partner, Luba Mushtuk, 34, seemed keen to dispel rumours of a feud with his fiancée, Katie Dadzie.
Luba and Katie, 33, were rumoured to clash as the pro dancer felt she was spending ‘far too much time’ at the rehearsal studio.
But the pair seemed eager to put the rumours to bed as they flashed a smile in a selfie posted to Luba’s Instagram Stories.
The twinkle-toed dancer captioned her post: ‘Always here to support us’.
Luba Mushtuk (right) and Nick Knowles fiancée Katie Dadzie (left) were rumoured to have clashed, but the pair seemed eager to put the rumours to bed as they flashed a smile in a selfie posted to Luba’s Instagram Stories
Nick Knowles and his dancing partner, Luba seemed keen to dispel rumours of a feud between her and his fiancée on Sunday
After returning to the show following an injury, Nick is reportedly having a dramatic time in the training room amid a clash between his fiancée and his dance partner.
The Sun have claimed Luba expressed concerns in front of others backstage that Katie has been turning up a bit too frequently at the rehearsal studio.
The professional dancer is said to have found it harder to teach Nick with the lingerie businesswoman watching and after discussions Katie has been limiting her visits.
A source told the publication: ‘Luba found the constant interruptions exasperating because she felt it was disturbing their training and routine.
‘It was starting to affect how Luba could teach, given that she felt Katie’s eyes on her when they were in close holds.
‘Luba is a complete professional but no one can deny that it is awkward having your partner’s girlfriend in the room. Katie seems to be very clingy to Nick.’
The couple have been practicing at studios in North London, 30 miles away from their home in Berkshire.
A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Any claim that there has been a complaint is categorically untrue.
After returning to the show following an injury, Nick is reportedly having a dramatic time in the training room amid a clash between his fiancée and his dance partner
Luba has reportedly expressed concerns in front of others backstage that Katie has been turning up a bit too frequently at the rehearsal studio
‘There have been no such complaints made to anyone, so these assertions are completely false.’
MailOnline have contacted Nick and Luba’s representatives for comment.
Yet despite the reported tension, Nick appeared in great spirits as he returned to the dancefloor after a week off following a knee injury.
The DIY SOS star performed his Paddington themed Charleston from Movie Week as production allowed him to carry his week three dance through after skipping last week’s show.
Dedicating the dance to his 10-year-old son Eddie, judge Motsi Mabuse praised the star for his ‘courageous return’ as she confirmed ‘your son will be proud.’
Speaking candidly to Claudia Winkleman after giving it his all on the dance floor, Nick admitted: ‘This time last week I thought I was out so I am over the moon.’
Luba added: ‘I am in absolute awe of this man and the determination. The fact that he has fallen in love with dancing is the most beautiful thing.’
Nick was told on Friday by medics he would be able take to the floor on Saturday to dance again, one week after the injury forced him to pull out of Movie Week.
Breaking his silence on his return to the show, Nick took to Instagram with the positive news as he admitted he missed being absent last week and has well and truly caught the dancing bug.
He began: ‘Hello everyone. Well I watched last week show feeling so sad that I wasn’t there. Of course I loved cheering on everyone else but I really missed it. I missed being part of it.
‘When I signed up to Strictly I never thought for a moment that I would love dancing they way that I do and I well and truly have caught the dancing bug so I am absolutely delighted to be back tomorrow.’
Thanking his support system he added: ‘I am so grateful to all the physios and the medical team at the BBC for getting me back on my feet. See you tomorrow night.’
A BBC Spokesperson also said: ‘We are all delighted that Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk will be dancing in this Saturday’s show. Nick has been cleared to dance by the medical and physio teams following his injury last week.
‘Due to time taken out of training this week, they will be performing their Movies Week Charleston to Rain On The Roof from Paddington 2.’
Nick and Katie got engaged in New Orleans in August 2023 with the pair announcing the happy news on Instagram.
Katie, who is 27 years DIY SOS host Nick’s junior, looked delighted in a series of snaps, which included Nick proposing while down on one knee.
Another picture saw her grinning from ear-to-ear as she showed off the ring Nick had given her which was in fact a gummy sweet.
The professional dancer found it harder to teach Nick with the lingerie businesswoman watching and after discussions Katie has been limiting her visits (pictured August 2023)
Dedicating the dance to his 10-year-old son Eddie, judge Motsi Mabuse praised the star for his ‘courageous return’ as she confirmed ‘your son will be proud’
Speaking candidly to Claudia Winkleman after giving it his all on the dance floor, Nick admitted: ‘This time last week I thought I was out so I am over the moon’
She captioned her post: ‘So last minute something special happened in New Orleans.’
Nick wrote: ‘There was a Haribo ring incident in New Orleans. Very happy.’
Late last month, Katie headed wedding dress shopping.
The lingerie business owner was joined by her mum Lizzie, grandma and maid of honour as she prepared for the big day.
