Strictly Come Dancing contestant Alex Kingston has been revealed to have performed during the iconic Blackpool weekend with a significant injury. The 62-year-old actress danced her Couple's Choice routine with a dislocated rib, a fact that only came to light after the broadcast.
The Painful Performance
During Saturday night's live show, Alex Kingston and her professional partner Johannes Radebe impressed the judges with their energetic routine, securing a respectable score of 35 points. The performance was met with praise, and a clip was subsequently shared on the official Strictly Come Dancing Instagram page.
It was under this post that the truth about her condition emerged. Her daughter, Salome Violetta Haertel, 24, commented to express her pride, writing: 'So so proud!!! Slayed the dance floor, dislocated rib and all!!!' This revelation prompted an outpouring of support from fans, with one urging Salome to send 'love and healing thoughts' to her superstar mother.
A Series Plagued by Injuries
This incident is not an isolated one in what has become an unusually injury-prone series of the hit BBC show. The programme has seen several contestants forced to exit due to physical problems.
Dani Dyer had to leave the competition before it even began because of an ankle issue. Shortly after, Stefan Dennis was forced to quit after suffering a calf tear. Most recently, the drag performer La Voix had to withdraw from the competition after sustaining an ankle injury during rehearsals.
La Voix, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, shared her devastation on Instagram, writing: 'I'm absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing. This isn't the glittering exit I ever imagined... My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot had other ideas!'
Consequences for the Competition
La Voix's withdrawal led to a significant change in the show's format for the week. It was announced that there would be no dance-off, meaning none of the remaining eight couples were sent home following the Blackpool special.
Despite the setback, La Voix joined the rest of the cast for the Blackpool wrap party, showcasing the recovery boot on her injured foot. Meanwhile, Alex Kingston has not publicly commented on her own rib injury, though her representative has been contacted for a statement by the Daily Mail.
