Strictly Come Dancing professional Kai Widdrington has pulled out of this weekend’s show due to illness, just hours before it airs live on the BBC. The 31-year-old dancer is partnered with Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem, 42, and the pair have consistently impressed judges and viewers with their routines.
It Takes Two host Ellie Taylor confirmed the news on Friday’s episode, saying: “Some news just in: due to illness, Kai is unable to perform on tomorrow night’s show. Instead, Aljaž will step in to dance the Argentine tango with Delta.” She added: “Kai, we are sending you so much love. Feel better soon.”
Aljaž Škorjanec steps in
Aljaž Škorjanec, 36, was originally partnered with Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters, but the couple were eliminated in week three. The official Strictly page echoed the announcement on Instagram, adding: “Sending all our love to Kai!”
Fans flooded social media with get-well messages, with one commenting “Omg poor Kai”, another writing “Poor Delta (and Kai) going through the trenches this series”, and a third saying “Kai get better soon we need you for Blackpool”, ahead of Strictly’s return to the Tower Ballroom next Saturday.
Second setback for the couple
Neither Kai nor the Strictly team has shared details of his illness. This marks the second blow for Delta and Kai’s series, as the former Neighbours actress had to miss a live show two weeks ago on doctors’ orders after sustaining a rib injury during training. They were given a bye and Delta cheered her co-stars on from home while recovering.
They returned the following weekend, delivering a Celine Dion rumba that earned the first 10 of the season. Speaking to Metro and other press ahead of their comeback, Delta said: “I jumped into this incredible experience with everything I’ve got, like I do in life, and we’ve been trying a lot of different things. It was a shock to go from being so happy to experiencing that surprise challenge we had to deal with.”
Kai added: “We’re obviously mindful of [the injury]. We’re not gonna go out there and do some crazy lifts and backbends that are gonna put strain on her. We’re taking it step by step. It’s up to me to put together some good choreography that means we can still shine and still have a moment – because I would be doing Delta an injustice if it wasn’t a moment every time we stepped on the dance floor – but while keeping in mind that we’re nursing her back to 100%.”
Other contestants affected
Delta and Aljaž’s Argentine tango will be to Missing by Everything but the Girl. Elsewhere, actress Jaime Winstone, 41, who is partnered with Carlos Gu, 33, was absent last weekend after tearing an abdominal muscle. She confirmed their return on social media, saying they had been “given the all-clear under certain rules by the doctors” and would dance the Charleston to I Can’t Do It Alone by Catherine Zeta-Jones this Saturday.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
