Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing 2021: David Mitchell won’t ‘replace’ Robert Webb as he supports Peep Show co-star after exit
David Mitchell has supported his friend Robert Webb (Picture: WireImage)
David Mitchell has spoken out on his comedy partner Robert Webb’s departure from Strictly Come Dancing – and before anyone asks, no he won’t be replacing him.
The Would I Lie To You? star, who has been collaborating with Robert since 1995, has been supporting his pal’s dances from the off, even cheering him on from the audience.
After it was announced that Robert has exited the show due to health reasons, David shared on Twitter: ‘This is sad!
‘They did some really brilliant dancing, I thought. Sorry there won’t be more.
‘And to those asking if I’ll be stepping in to replace him: I’m afraid not. I prefer to dance like nobody’s watching. And I can only do that if nobody’s watching.’
However, Robert’s dance partner Dianne Buswell is leaving the door open, as she responded: ‘You know I would be more than happy to teach you a tango.’
Robert, 49, revealed he had left the show with a statement that read: ‘I’m extremely sorry to have to announce that I’m withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing due to ill health.
‘Two years ago I had open heart surgery and although I believed I was fit enough to take on Strictly and its demanding schedule, it became clear that I had bitten off way more than I could chew for this stage in my recovery.
‘I had begun to feel symptoms that led me to seek an urgent consultation with my heart specialist, and it was her view that it would be better for the sake of my health to step back from the show.
‘I’m proud of the three dances that Dianne Buswell and I managed to perform and deeply regret having to let her down like this. I couldn’t have wished for a more talented partner or more patient teacher, and it’s a measure of Dianne’s professionalism and kindness that I was able to get as far as I did.
‘Thanks too to everyone at home who voted for us. It was always going to be a difficult mountain to climb (for one thing it’s made of glitter so it’s very skiddy) and I’ve been especially touched by the support from fellow heart patients. I think perhaps I was too eager to impress them.
‘They will know that recovery doesn’t always go in a straight line, and I hope they’re not too disappointed that I ran into the limits of my resilience much sooner than I’d hoped.
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‘I leave knowing that Strictly viewers are in very safe hands and I’ll be cheering for my brother and sister contestants all the way to Christmas. Despite this sad ending, it has been a genuine honour to be part of this huge, joyful and barking mad TV show. Long may it continue.’
Amy Dowden, Gorka Marquez and eliminated contestant Katie McGlynn were among those sharing the love for the star.
Strictly Come Dancing returns Saturday at 7pm on BBC One.
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