Strictly Come Dancing fans fear Delta Goodrem may be forced to quit the series after spotting a worrying detail in her recent outfit. The Eurovision star will sit out this weekend's Icons Week after suffering a rib injury, receiving an automatic bye to the following week.
Injury forces Delta to withdraw from live show
The BBC confirmed in a statement: "Due to injury, Delta Goodrem has been advised by doctors to rest and, as a result, will not dance on this weekend's Strictly Come Dancing. In line with the rules of the show, Delta and Kai will receive a bye through to next week when it is hoped they will be able to dance again. We wish Delta the very best as she continues her recovery."
Delta expressed her disappointment, saying she was "gutted" and "absolutely gutted that a rib injury means I won't be able to dance on Strictly this week." She added: "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."
Fans spot dress reused from AJ Odudu's cancelled final
Supporters have voiced concerns that Delta may need to withdraw from the series entirely. Now, some have spotted a detail that could determine her future. Posting on Reddit, viewers noted that Delta's sparkling dress from Week 3 appeared to be adapted from one that AJ Odudu was scheduled to wear for the Strictly Come Dancing final in 2021.
AJ, who was also partnered with Kai Widdrington, was forced to withdraw from that final after suffering a torn ligament in her ankle. At the time, she said she was "gutted," adding: "I've done all I can possibly do to get back on my feet for the @BBCStrictly final. I even asked the docs if I could perform in a medical moonboot! But the fact is, I can't stand on my feet let alone dance because I've torn my spring ligament."
Viewers call for dress to be retired
One Reddit user wrote: "I noticed that Delta's salsa dress this week was modified from AJ's showdance dress that never was! It's one of my favourite ever Strictly outfits, I recognised it as soon as Delta walked onto screen. The silver fringe was added at the bottom for Delta." Another joked that following Delta's injury, the dress "needs to be retired before anyone else gets injured."
AJ, who did wear the dress while watching the 2021 final from the audience, described the experience to Women's Health as "a sweet dream and a beautiful nightmare." She reflected: "Now, I kind of feel guilty that I was so hard on myself initially. I thought, 'How were you so angry at your body, which has done so much. Like, at least 10 hours a day for 13 weeks'. Yes I have this body that let me down, but, actually, it carried me to the final; it did what it needed to do."
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
