Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing star Ugo Monye pulls out of live show after injury
Ugo Monye and Oti Mabuse will miss the live show on Saturday (Picture: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing star Ugo Monye has pulled out of this weekend’s live show following issues stemming from an ongoing injury.
The rugby star, who is partnered up with professional dancer Oti Mabuse, announced the news in a statement on Thursday, explaining they will both have to miss Saturday’s episode.
He wrote: ‘Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to dance this weekend on the show.
‘I have a history of back problems which has always been managed under the guidance of medical professionals. Unfortunately this has been causing me some unwanted problems this week!’
Dan Walker, who is competing with pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova, showed support for Ugo and tweeted: ‘Really sorry to hear that Ugo. Take care of yourself… and that back of yours. If I’m still here… I’ll see you next week.’
Ugo, 38, hit the ground running earlier in the series when he delivered an emotional performance dedicated to his late father.
Dressed head to toe in hot pink, Ugo and Oti danced the Samba and he later explained that it was in tribute to his late father, who died a few weeks before and whose funeral was the same morning.
Speaking to presenter Claudia Winkleman as he waited for his scores, Ugo explained: ‘My dad passed away a couple of weeks ago of prostate cancer and we had his funeral this morning.
Ugo and Oti are favourites to make it to the final (Picture: PA)
‘During the funeral they spoke about today being a celebration and that’s exactly how today felt. There’s no better way of celebrating than by dancing.’
Ugo was awarded 18 out of a possible 40 from the judges for the performance, after they commented that his voltas were the wrong way round, but that he brought joy to the show nonetheless.
Nonetheless, the sports pundit is a favourite to get to the final due to being partnered up with Oti, who who has won the coveted glitterball trophy for the past two years running with partners Kelvin Fletcher and Bill Bailey.
The latest developments come just hours after Ugo’s fellow contestant Robert Webb announced he was quitting the series due to health issues.
The Peep Show actor, 49, revealed that he was advised to withdraw on doctor’s orders after experiencing ‘symptoms’ which required an ‘urgent consultation’ with a doctor.
More: Strictly Come Dancing
Robert had undergone emergency surgery on his heart for a mitral valve prolapse which was discovered during a routine medical check.
Despite Ugo and Robert both missing from the next episode, Metro.co.uk understands that the show will go on as planned including the elimination.
Strictly Come Dancing returns Saturday at 7pm on BBC One.
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