Strictly star forced to change partners hours before live show

Strictly couple Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington have suffered another blow (Picture: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire) Strictly Come Dancing professional Kai Widdrington has pulled out of this weekend’s show, hours before going live on the BBC. The pro dancer, 31, is paired with Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem, 42, and they have consistently wowed both the judges and viewers with their routines. But disaster has struck ahead of their next performance, with It Takes Two host Ellie Taylor confirming Kai is unable to dance. Opening Friday’s episode, she said: ‘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.’ Get personalised updates on Strictly Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. ‘Kai, we are sending you so much love. Feel better soon,’ she added, blowing kisses to the camera. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Aljaž Škorjanec, 36, was originally partnered with Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters, but the couple were eliminated in week three. Taking to Instagram, the official Strictly page made its own announcement, echoing Ellie’s words and adding: ‘Sending all our love to Kai!’ ‘Omg poor Kai 😢’, commented @castle.skyla as the get-well wishes flooded in. ‘Poor Delta (and Kai) going through the trenches this series ☠️🫠’, wrote @nigelchiho. ‘Kai get better soon we need you for Blackpool🥺🤍’, said @malin.j0hanna, with Strictly set to return to the legendary Tower Ballroom next Saturday. Neither Kai nor the Strictly team has shared details of his illness. It’s been a tough series for Delta and Kai (Picture: PA Wire) This marks the second blow for Delta and Kai’s Strictly experience, as the former Neighbours actress had to miss a live show just two weeks ago on doctors’ orders. A ‘gutted’ Delta sustained a rib injury during training, so she and Kai lost their chance to perform during Icons Week. As per the rules of the programme, they were given a bye, and Delta had no choice but to cheer her co-stars on tearfully from home as she recovered. Thankfully, after taking it easy and working with medical professionals, she and Kai were back on the floor the following weekend, where they delivered a stunning Celine Dion rumba and earned the first 10 of the season. Speaking to Metro and other press ahead of their comeback, Delta and Kai recalled how emotional the healing process had been. ‘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,’ Delta said. The musician had to miss Icons Week due to a rib injury (Picture: Instagram/@deltagoodrem) ‘It was a shock to go from being so happy to experiencing that surprise challenge we had to deal with.’ She said they worked ‘really hard’ to ‘gently’ work towards returning to rehearsals, given that it was a ‘new injury’ she had ‘never encountered before’. ‘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,’ said Kai. ‘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%.’ Last weekend, Delta channelled Jennifer Lopez and her famous green dress as they danced a cha cha, which scored 31 points. It placed them third on the scoreboard, with judge Motsi Mabuse saying Delta’s ‘heart is on the dance floor’ after the Let’s Get Loud number. Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu had to miss last Saturday’s live show after she tore a muscle (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston/BBC Creative) ‘I love the spice you bring to this competition,’ she praised. She isn’t the only contestant this series to encounter a setback, though, as actress Jaime Winstone was absent last weekend. Jaime, 41, who is partnered with Carlos Gu, 33, tore an abdominal muscle and was advised to rest, explaining in her statement that she was in ‘considerable pain’ and needed to put her ‘health first’. Upon their return to practice, she and Carlos filmed a video for social media this week, saying: ‘We are back in the rehearsal room today. 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 just wanted to let you know we are intending to dance. We have been given the all-clear under certain rules by the doctors. ‘We adjusted our wonderful Charleston with our amazing choreographers and Carlos, how to work around the injury. We are just feeling so grateful and privileged to be back and be back in the ballroom this Saturday.’ She thanked everyone for their ‘amazing’ messages and support. Confirming Jaime and Carlos’s return, the official Strictly page revealed on Friday evening that they will dance the Charleston to I Can’t Do It Alone by Catherine Zeta-Jones. Delta and Aljaž’s Argentine tango will be to Missing by Everything but the Girl. 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