STRICTLY heartthrob Nikita Kuzmin has sparked fears he may be quitting after signing up for Celebrity Big Brother.
The Ukrainian pro, 26, has only been on the prime-time BBC1 dance contest for three years.
But he has seen his profile soar after being partnered with presenter Tilly Ramsay, Paralympian Ellie Simmonds and West End star Layton Williams.
CBB’s launch on Monday night will be on arch rival ITV1 — prompting claims the dancer may have turned his back on the Beeb.
A TV insider said: “This will send the rumour mill into overdrive, with some already suggesting he may not return to Strictly and is instead making the most of being a rising star.
“He’ll have been selected by CBB producers as an obvious heartthrob who can spice things up in the house — and maybe even spill some secrets from behind the scenes of Strictly.”
Others tipped for the house include former X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne, ex-This Morning host Fern Britton and Love Island’s Ekin-Su Cülcüloglu.
But CBB said: “We don’t comment on speculation.”
The BBC also declined to comment.