Ellie and Nikita brushed off the claims (Picture: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing stars Ellie Simmonds and Nikita Kuzmin have spoken out after Craig Revel Horwood accused them of performing an ‘illegal lift.’

The pair are among the 2022 cohort, which also includes Helen Skelton and Hamza Yassin, vying to impress Craig and fellow judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.

Taking to the ballroom floor in a bid to win the Glitterball trophy in the last instalment of the BBC’s juggernaut series, the Paralympian swimmer and Nikita danced the Paso Doble.

The pair, who performed the sultry routine to The Apprentice’s soundtrack for the special episode marking the Beeb’s centenary, were criticised by some of the panel for an assisted lift.

Craig, on Sunday night’s dance-off, said: ‘It was a lift that was so illegal I’m thinking of calling in H from Line Of Duty to investigate.’

However, appearing on Wednesday’s It Takes Two, Nikita and Ellie brushed off the accusations and thanked fans for their support.

Laughing about the claim the list was ‘illegal’, Nikita said: ‘I wanted to create a lot of drama and my only goal was to get Ellie down safely.’

Ellie and Nikita haven’t been in the dance-off yet (Picture: PA)

Host Janette Manrara then showed the duo a tweet from a viewer slamming the comments, with Ellie remarking it was ‘amazing’ to hear the reaction.

On the night, Shirley had said: ‘I only have one small little complaint, I have to deduct one point for an assisted lift at the beginning as that’s not allowed.’

Ellie and Nikita laughed about the ‘illegal’ lift (Picture: PA)

Craig had added: ‘The lift was illegal, going on too long,’ before fuming some more on Sunday.

But despite the judge’s remarks, Ellie and Nikita sailed through to Halloween Week, with Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, and Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer in the dreaded dance-off.

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Sadly, and much to the devastation of viewers, comedian Jayde was eliminated, but had nothing but good things to say about her stint on the glitzy dance show.

It Takes Two continues on Thursday at 6.30pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.

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Ellie and Nikita were in high spirits.