Kristina Rihanoff Confirms She’s Quitting Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing professional Kristina Rihanoff, who last week announced that she’s pregnant on Celebrity Big Brother, has confirmed that she’s leaving the BBC dancing show.

Speculation that Kristina wouldn’t be returning to the show has been rife since November.

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Now, the professional dancer has confirmed all the reports, telling Hello! magazine: “It’s a bittersweet situation.

“I was on Strictly for eight years and I always loved the dancing side of it, but I feel relieved because I wasn’t happy towards the end.

“I’m also sad because I’m going to miss everyone. I will always be grateful for the fantastic opportunity that Strictly gave me to be part of such a brilliant show.”

Her decision to quit was made before she found out that she’s expecting a baby with boyfriend Ben Cohen.

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She continued: “It’s very intense and it’s worth it if you feel like you are fulfilling yourself as an artist… those moments when you feel you have done great choreography to a great song and a good concept. But I feel some of that creativity was being taken out of my hands.”

However, she describes Strictly as the ‘most exciting thing’ she’s ever done, and that she’ll miss her fellow dancers.

The 38-year-old explained: “I think I am on a new path, learning about myself, how to relax and how to enjoy a more simple and balanced life. I can’t say I’m not nervous. But I’m very excited about the future.”

We’ll miss you, Kristina!

Copyright [Channel 5]

She went on to tell readers that her pregnancy came as a surprise, but that she’s ‘obviously delighted’ about becoming a mum.

Kristina revealed: “My mother was with me over Christmas and when we found out she put her arms around me and she cried with joy.

“It is her lifelong dream for me to have a child and it was lovely to see her so happy.”

Read the full interview in this week’s HELLO! magazine, on sale now