Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin has made his own announcement after being confirmed for the 2024 series.

The dancer, who finished second on last year’s season of the show alongside her celebrity partner Layton Williams, was one of the names announced this week for the professional lineup.

Nikita shared a series of pictures on Instagram with her former partners Layton, Ellie Simmonds and Tilly Ramsay, while also announcing “new and exciting things” to come.

Related: Strictly’s Amy Dowden to host new BBC show about her cancer

“ANNOUNCEMENT,” he wrote. “I’m so excited to announce that I will be returning to Strictly for my fourth series!! I can’t wait to experience all the new and exciting things that are coming my way.”

In addition to Nikita, the 2024 series will star Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Gorka Márquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola.

Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke will also be there again, as will presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Amy, who missed the series last year due to a breast cancer diagnosis, recently broke her silence on her return, saying she was “so happy and grateful” to be back.

Related: Strictly’s Layton Williams says returning to the stage is like ‘coming home’

It is noticeable that Giovanni Pernice is missing from the Strictly squad. This happened after reports emerged that the dancer had been subjected to an internal BBC investigation following complaints about his behavior during show training.

Pernice previously denied “any suggestion of abusive or threatening behavior,” adding in an Instagram post: “No one is more ambitious towards my dance partners than I am. I have always strived to help them become the best dancers they can be.”

“It always came from love and the desire to win – for myself and my dance partners.”

The BBC said in May that it took complaints seriously and that it would “take all necessary steps to clarify the facts, determine whether a case has been raised and what action, if any, should be taken.”

Be sure to come and dance will return to BBC One later this year, while spin-off Strictly speaking: It takes two is broadcast on weekdays on BBC Two. Both shows can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.

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