Strictly Come Dancing star Alex Kingston has revealed she is competing with a dislocated rib, sparking concern among viewers who have called for the BBC to intervene. The 62-year-old actress, best known for her roles in Doctor Who and ER, was seen wincing in pain during Saturday night's live show.
Kingston's daughter, Salome Violetta Haertel, 24, disclosed the injury in a comment on social media, writing: 'So so proud!!! Slayed on the dance floor, dislocated rib and all!!!' Fans quickly picked up on the remark, fearing the star might withdraw from the competition, as several other contestants have done this series due to injuries.
Despite insisting she was 'completely fine' earlier in the week, Kingston admitted to host Claudia Winkleman that her body is 'struggling'. After a disappointing cha cha cha that earned her just 23 points, she said: 'My 62-year-old self is saying, "What are you putting me through?" but my spirit and my soul is going, "La, la, la, la, la, I want to keep on dancing!"'
The situation worsened during the Instant Dance Challenge, where Kingston and her partner Johannes Radebe had to perform a rumba. Viewers noticed she struggled to move and appeared stiff, with one writing on X: 'will somebody please get Alex to a medic?' Another tweeted: 'Why is Alex limping? If she's hurt herself surely it's not a good idea to continue dancing?'
Kingston's daughter's comment also revealed that the injury is a dislocated rib, which has not been officially confirmed by the BBC or the show's medical team. The actress has not indicated any plans to withdraw, but fans fear she may be forced to quit if the pain persists.
