Entertainment
Strictly 2021: Sara Davies says Robert Webb ‘was struggling’ with last routine before making decision to quit
Sara Davies says Robert Webb was struggling last week on Strictly (Picture: BBC/Instagram/@saradavies)
Strictly Come Dancing star Sara Davies has shared how she could tell fellow contestant Robert Webb was beginning to struggle as she reflected on his difficult decision to leave due to his health.
Robert announced he made the decision to give up his spot on Strictly after he confessed he felt he had ‘bitten off way more than I could chew’ at this stage in his recovery from heart surgery in an update earlier this week.
He explained he had been through open heart surgery two years ago, and after experiencing symptoms related to this, he sought a doctor’s advice.
The Peep Show star and his partner Dianne left fans gutted with their departure but now Sara has admitted she could tell he was starting to find things were taking their toll.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, Sara opened up on her bond with Robert and Dianne, saying: ‘He’s such a big personality Robert. They’re the couple who are just in front of us, so for me, the most exciting moment is that five minutes before we get ready to go out and I feel like I shared that with Robert every week.’
She added: ‘I got to know Dianne as well and the joke last week was that she got my blonde hair, and I got her red hair. But I could see that Robert was really kind of struggling. I watched him last week and he was struggling.’
The pair performed a Muppets-inspired routine last week (Picture: Instagram/@diannebuswell)
Sara also noted how hard it must have been for him to make the decision to withdraw from the competition.
The Dragon’s Den star continued: ‘For him to take that decision must have been so difficult because it’s not like you can say, “I want to kind of have a few weeks off and then see if I feel any better.” It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I know how devastated he’d have been to pull out.’
Earlier this week, Robert informed fans of the decision and shared: ‘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.’
He went on: ‘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.’
More: Strictly Come Dancing
Elsewhere, Ugo Monye will also be sitting out of this weekend’s show due to a back injury, but he is expected to return next week with partner Oti Mabuse.
Strictly airs tonight at 7.10pm on BBC One.
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