Strictly’s Graziano Di Prima has revealed he can’t travel to Sicily to spend Christmas with his Italian family after London was plunged into Tier 4 restrictions.
The devastated professional dancer, 26, took to Instagram after the new rules were announced and countries started banning flights from the UK to explain that despite his best efforts he was stuck in the UK.
Posting a crying emoticon of his face on Sunday, Graziano said: ‘There’s something that you cannot buy. Family is everything.
Gutted: Strictly’s Graziano Di Prima has revealed he can’t travel to Sicily to spend Christmas with his family after London was plunged into Tier 4 restrictions (pictured on It Takes Two)
‘I tried everything possible to make my way home but it’s not possible.’
Referring to the latest update about restrictions, he added in the caption: ‘What just happened?.. familyiseverything.’
Fellow Strictly pro dancer Amy Dowden, who was partnered with JJ Chalmers on the latest series, quickly sent her support to Graziano.
She penned: ‘Oh darling I’m so sorry! You know where I am if you need anything. Pick up the phone! Sending big hugs so sorry xxxx’
Professional: The dancer, 24, hasn’t had a celebrity partner on this series but has appeared in the group numbers (pictured with fellow pro Nadiya Bychkova)
Boris Johnson imposed a tough new round of restrictions on London and much of the South East on Saturday, effectively plunging more than 16m people into lockdown.
Shops, gyms, hairdressers and beauty salons have been ordered to shut again, with residents told not to leave Tier Four.
Many flights have also been cancelled with Italy, Spain, Russia and India among a list of forty nations to slam the door on British flights arriving in their countries.
The banned flights from the UK are a bid to stop the new Covid variant crossing into their borders, sparking panic at terminals across the continent.
Devastated: Graziano shared a sad emoticon of himself crying as he penned ‘I tried everything possible to make my way home… but it’s not possible’
Taking it all in: The dancer shared his disappointment after the new rules were announced and countries started banning flights from the UK
Support: Fellow Strictly pro Amy Dowden was quick show offer her support and send ‘big hugs’ to Graziano
Graziano, who is engaged to Gianda Lin, hasn’t had a celebrity partner this year however has been appearing in the group dances and isolated with the other stars.
Strictly came to an end on Saturday night with Bill Bailey and his pro partner Oti Mabuse lifting the Glitterball trophy.
And despite the recent introduction of new coronavirus restrictions, Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse did managed to make it back home before borders were closed.
She shared a post on Instagram on Sunday, telling fans she was back in Germany and had been reunited with her husband Evgenij Voznyuk and their young daughter.
Trying to stay positive: Graziano also shared a shot of himself from on the show as he again referenced the latest coronavirus restrictions
Family: It comes after judge Motsi Mabuse revealed she had made it back home to Germany, sharing a photo of her husband Evgenij Voznyuk and their daughter on Sunday night, as many countries in Europe announce restrictions on travel from the UK
Motsi, 39, had wrapped the 2020 series of Strictly on Saturday night, hours after the news broke that much of the UK was being plunged into strict Tier 4 restrictions to help curb the spread of a new mutant strand of the COVID-19 virus.
As countries, including Germany, halt incoming flights from the UK and impose travel bans, Motsi announced she had happily made it home for Christmas.
She shared a photo of Evgeni kissing their daughter on her Instagram page, writing: ‘Wow !! The events of getting home were another thriller of 2020 and us getting anxious minute to minute but we made it home ❤️❤️back in good old Germany!!’
She added her thanks to fans for their messages after the emotional Strictly finale, which saw her sister Oti win the Glitterball trophy for the second year running.
‘In the mean time my mailbox exploded , Thank you for All the Lovely messages I will take time to read them all later !!❤️❤️❤️#familytime,’ Motsi wrote.
Tough journey: Motsi, 39, had wrapped the 2020 series of Strictly on Saturday night, hours after the news broke that much of the UK was being plunged into strict Tier 4 restrictions
‘Family time’: As countries, including Germany, halt incoming flights from the UK and impose travel bans, Motsi announced she had happily made it home for Christmas