‘Strictly Come Dancing’ professional Kristina Rihanoff has defended her partner, Daniel O’Donnell, amid claims in the press that she has been slating him behind his back.
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Earlier this week, it was reported that she had been “overheard” branding the Irish crooner an “old man” with “no chance” of winning this year’s ‘Strictly’, which she has insisted is not the case at all.
Setting the record straight, Kristina angrily took to her Twitter, where she branded the press reports were “horrible, disrespectful and rude”, adding: “Everyone knows how much we like working together.”
Kristina Rihanoff and Daniel O'Donnell
An insider also reveals to The Mirror: “They have such good chemistry and have developed a great friendship.”
This isn’t the first time Kristina has been forced to hit out at speculation about her working relationship with Daniel, though.
When this year’s couples were first announced, judge Craig Revel Horwood claimed that Kristina was “gutted” to have been paired with Daniel, having previously danced with stars like Simon Webbe and Ben Cohen, who she is now in a relationship with.
Once again, though, Kristina stepped in to defend herself, and Daniel, rubbishing the reports by saying she was actually “over the moon” to have been paired with him.
The pair are currently around the middle of the ‘Strictly’ leaderboard, having lasted this far in the competition without landing themselves in the bottom two.
In Saturday’s show, they’ll be performing the American Smooth to Frank Sinatra’s classic ‘Fly Me To The Moon’.
Daniel has admitted the routine will be their most ambitious to date, telling The Mirror: “There are lifts and I’m afraid that come Sunday Kristina might not be alive. But I will try to keep her safe. It’s not about the lift, it’s the landing that’s the problem.”
‘Strictly’ continues on Saturday night, at 6.30pm on BBC One.