Aljaž Škorjanec is set to dance with Delta Goodrem on Strictly Come Dancing after Kai Widdrington was forced to pull out due to illness. The 36-year-old professional dancer arrived at the studios carrying a good luck charm given to him by his three-year-old daughter Lyra.
Aljaž steps in for Kai
Earlier this week, it was announced that Kai Widdrington was unable to dance due to illness, so Aljaž is stepping in for the week. Aljaž was paired with Gavin & Stacey star Melanie Waters earlier in the competition, but they were eliminated early on in the series, and he is now gearing up to make a return to the dancefloor.
With just hours to go until the show begins, Aljaž posted a video to Instagram where he said: "Good morning Instagram, what a morning, what a day! Let's do this!"
Good luck charm from daughter Lyra
The TV star, who is married to former It Takes Two host Janette Manrara, then revealed that his three-year-old daughter Lyra had presented him with a plush Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas as a good luck charm.
He added: "Before I left, the little one stopped me and said, 'Please take this with you for luck. So here I am, it's my little pumpkin, I think his name is Jack, he's gonna be with me all day for good luck. We got this."
Argentine Tango with Delta
Delta and Kai were scheduled to dance the Argentine Tango to Missing by Everything But The Girl this week, but she will now perform with Aljaž instead. A statement issued by Strictly said: "Due to illness, Kai is unable to dance on tomorrow night's show. Instead, Aljaž will step in to dance the Argentine Tango with Delta. We're sending Kai all our love and hope he feels better very soon."
Judge Shirley Ballas was among those who offered their sympathies, replying in the comments on Strictly's Instagram post: "Hugs, get well soon." The news was also confirmed on the BBC's Strictly: It Takes Two, with host Ellie Taylor saying: "Kai, we are sending you so much love, feel better soon."
Delta's tough year and Jaime's return
Singer Delta has had a tough time on Strictly this year, despite being praised for her performances. In October, she suffered a fractured rib during rehearsals and had to sit out Icons Week. The injury - which was treated with intensive physiotherapy - prevented them from performing their planned Dolly Parton tribute to Jolene, which Amy Dowden did instead.
While Kai, 31, won't be performing, Saturday will see the return of actress Jaime Winstone, who was forced to miss a week after suffering an abdominal injury. However, doctors have warned her not to do any lifts when she performs the Charleston to "I Can't Do It Alone" from Chicago, and the choreography will instead involve extra steps.
In a post on Instagram, she said: "It's been a hard week, and it's been very frustrating not being able to dance and join everyone else in the ballroom. I wanted to let you know that we are intending to dance. We have been given the all-clear under certain rules by the doctors. We've just done our wonderful Charleston with amazing choreographers and Carlos."
This week on Strictly is considered somewhat crucial within the world of the show because those who make it through to next week's heat will have the honour of dancing in Blackpool.
