Strictly Come Dancing contestant Alex Kingston has defiantly confirmed she will continue in the competition, despite suffering a painful dislocated rib during training. The 62-year-old actress, hotly tipped to win this year's series, reassured fans the injury is 'minor' and will not stop her from performing in the coveted Blackpool special this weekend.
Injury Revealed After Saturday's Performance
The extent of Alex Kingston's injury only came to light after her performance on Saturday night. Her 24-year-old daughter, Salome Violetta Haertel, took to social media to express immense pride in her mother, revealing she had 'slayed on the dance floor, dislocated rib and all'.
The ER and Doctor Who star had performed a Couple's Choice dance with her professional partner, Johannes Radebe, while managing the significant discomfort. The revelation sparked immediate concern among the show's devoted viewers about whether she would become the fifth celebrity to exit the series prematurely.
Blackpool Confirmation and Fan Reassurance
Any fears of withdrawal were quickly put to rest. During Monday's episode of the Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, host Fleur East confirmed that the pair are indeed heading to Blackpool. She announced: 'Alex and Johannes will be dancing a cha-cha-cha to Ring My Bell by Anita Ward.'
In response to the concern, Alex Kingston herself issued a statement on Instagram to reassure everyone. She wrote, 'I just want to assure everyone that I am completely fine. It is a minor injury... it's all part and parcel of dancing at these levels.' She attributed the initial comment to her 'concerned and loving daughter' and emphatically stated she would be back on the dance floor rehearsing, excited for the next challenge.
A Turbulent Series for Strictly Come Dancing
This year's series of Strictly has been marked by an unusual number of withdrawals. The exodus began before the live shows even started, with Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn pulling out on medical advice.
They were followed by:
- Love Island's Dani Dyer, who injured her ankle in rehearsals.
- Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, who tore his calf muscle significantly.
- Drag icon La Voix, who was forced to quit just before the Blackpool week, also due to injury.
La Voix expressed her devastation on social media, stating her 'spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot has other ideas!'
Alex Kingston's determination to continue is a testament to her resilience, having also overcome womb cancer last year. Her commitment ensures that she and Johannes Radebe will bring their cha-cha-cha to the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom, much to the relief of her fans.
