Entertainment
Strictly 2021: Robert Webb ‘will not be returning for final’ after withdrawing from show due to ill health
It’s thought Robert won’t be returning this weekend (Picture: PA)
Strictly Come Dancing’s Robert Webb will reportedly not reprise his stint as a contestant when his fellow stars return for the final on Saturday night.
Earlier in the series, the actor was forced to make an early exit from the show due to health reasons after he said he had ‘bitten off way more than I could chew.’
Robert, 49, had open heart surgery two years ago, and after struggling with the gruelling training demands, he was urged to step away from the show.
It was thought he would make a comeback to dance alongside his fellow contestants for one last dance during the grand finale.
However, The Sun’s TV Biz column reports Peep Show actor Robert will not be back for the final, which is set to take place this weekend.
It’s thought Dianne Buswell may instead pair up with Greg Wise, as his former partner Karen Hauer is currently on the sidelines with a knee injury.
The pair performed some memorable routines (Picture: Instagram/diannebuswell)
An insider said to the publication: ‘There’s nothing to suggest the dance won’t happen but it’s going to be a difficult one to arrange.
‘Not only do they have so many more people to organise so they’re as COVID-safe as possible, they have two dropouts…
‘But given the past four months, the producers will find a way to make it happen, one way or another.’
His exit statement 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.
It’s thought Dianne could pair up with Greg Wise, whose original partner Karen is out with a knee injury (Picture: PA)
‘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.’
There’s been a lot of upheaval in this year’s series of Strictly.
Multiple contestants have caught Covid, meaning having to isolate and take a week out of the competition.
Amy Dowden, Tom Fletcher and Judi Love all were absent for a week due to returning positive tests, before later returning.
It wasn’t just the contestants who were affected, with both Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood also falling foul to the virus.
Craig tested positive for Covid whilst Motsi had to isolate due to a close contact testing positive.
Despite all the issues the cast and crew of the latest series have faced, it’ll surely go down as one of the most exciting ever.
More: Strictly Come Dancing
This weekend will see one of the final three – Rose Ayling-Ellis, AJ Odudu or John Whaite – crowned as winner of Strictly 2021.
Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Strictly and Robert Webb for comment.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final airs on Saturday at 7pm on BBC One.
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