Speaking to the Daily Star, Kai shared: “Everyone wants to get a celebrity. Unfortunately it wasn’t my time this series.

“Two boys couldn’t have one this series and sadly I am one of them. Some of us don’t get partners and that’s the way it is.”

He added: “Let’s see what happens next year. Hopefully I’ll get one then.”

As well as Kai, Carlos Gu and Lauren Oakley have also been benched this year, but remain part of Strictly’s troupe of professionals, and will continue to appear in group routines over the course of the series.

This year marks Kai’s first year without a partner, having previously been paired up with Big Brother host AJ Odudu, Loose Women anchor Kaye Adams and TV personality Angela Rippon.

He joined Strictly in 2021, having previously been a pro on the Irish version of the show, Dancing With The Stars.

Kai did already have a Strictly connection, though, as he once lived with former professional Giovanni Pernice while the Italian dancer was still part of the show.