Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Kai Widdrington has revealed that Delta Goodrem is planning an "iconic" comeback for next week, following the rib injury that forced her to withdraw from the competition.
The 41-year-old singer sustained the injury at the start of last week, before her Saturday October 10 performance. The injury deteriorated over the week, leading Delta to perform in severe pain on the live BBC show. Her condition worsened after the broadcast, and she visited A&E that same Saturday night.
Doctors' advice and bye to next week
Doctors advised her to rest, and she withdrew from the following week's show. The injury was announced on Monday, October 12, with Delta and show bosses stating she was recuperating at home. According to the show's regulations, she and her dance partner Kai Widdrington, 31, have been afforded a bye through to next week.
Appearing on Strictly's companion programme It Takes Two on Friday, October 16, Kai revealed the duo were already mapping out their choreography for the upcoming week and disclosed which song they would have danced to this week.
Plans for a slower routine
When host Ellie Taylor enquired which song and dance they would have performed, Kai responded: "We would have been dancing the Cha Cha Cha to Olivia Newton-John's 'Xanadu'." After Ellie proposed that he should "do it next week anyway", Kai said: "We feel like it might be cursed, so we might not!"
Revealing their strategy for next week's performance, Kai explained: "We're going to slow things down a little next week and ease back into it. But as Delta reminded me today on FaceTime, 'it always has to be iconic'. So we have to make it iconic. So that's my job to choreograph it. I choreographed it today. It's gonna be slower than what we've done before."
Fan reactions and Delta's statement
Responding to Kai's announcement on Reddit, one Strictly enthusiast commented: "Kind of insane that Delta was supposed to do a Cha-cha-cha when she's already done a Samba and a Salsa. That's pretty intense!" Another concurred: "Insane! My theory is that they thought she was going to be a ballroom girl and wanted her to get them out the way. When in reality I think she find ballroom much harder." A third contributed: "Well based on Kai's description of slow, it's probably a waltz or viennese waltz next week." While a fourth suggested: "Could also be a slow foxtrot."
Confirming her injury this week, Delta stated: "I'm absolutely gutted that a rib injury means I won't be able to dance on Strictly this week. I've been loving every second of this experience, so having to sit this one out is heartbreaking - especially after the high of Saturday night." She added: "I can not tell you how much I love being a part of this magical show. I'm going to focus on resting and recovering, and hopefully I'll be back on that dance floor very soon. Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support. It's so appreciated. I'll be cheering everyone on from the sidelines this week! Sending all my love, Delta xx."
Kai will take to the floor with Strictly professional Amy Dowden during this weekend's October 18 programme on Sunday. The pair are scheduled to dance while guest musical performer Belles delivers Dolly Parton's Jolene. Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight, Saturday October 17, at 6:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
