Will Bayley and Janette Manrara have pulled out of Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing after the paralympian was left in agony during rehearsals.
Claudia Winkleman made the announcement at the beginning of the live show, revealing that he had injured himself in rehearsals and had pulled out under medical advice.
‘You may have noticed Will and Janette are missing from tonight’s line up,’ said Claudia.
‘Unfortunately Will suffered a knee injury in training and although he was desperate to take part, after a full medical check he has been told he absolutely cannot perform and must rest.’
The Strictly Twitter account then confirmed Alex Scott would be performing with Kevin Clifton as her usual partner Neil Jones had also been injured.
Will, a 31-year-old table tennis player who won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, was born with arthrogryposis – a condition which causes curved joints affecting all four of his limbs.
He was later diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, aged seven, and was treated at Great Ormond Street Children’s hospital who helped him through rehabilitation.
Speaking about dancing with the condition, Will revealed how partner Janette doesn’t hold back on the criticism despite the extra hurdle.
‘I thought she might be soft on me because of my difficulties, but she tells me straight, which is the best way,’ Will told Closer magazine.
‘She’s adapted it really well for me.
Hi everyone, I am absolutely gutted I cannot be performing tonight on strictly with Janette, sadly I'm injured and not fit to dance. I hope to be back on the dance floor next week. Good luck to everyone tonight. Thanks for all your messages guys, ill be back!! 🎃👻💃❤
— Will Bayley MBE (@WillBayleytt) October 26, 2019
‘Hi everyone, I am absolutely gutted I cannot be performing tonight on strictly with Janette, sadly I’m injured and not fit to dance,’ he later shared.
‘I hope to be back on the dance floor next week.
‘Good luck to everyone tonight. Thanks for all your messages guys, ill be back!!’
Janette later told Claudia: ‘Things happen and we will move forward and be back.’
Both Will and Alex have been middle of the leaderboard but have been improving week by week, and last week Alex was near the top after stunning the judges with her Charleston to Pump Up the Jam.
The pair, who scored a whopping 33 points for their Charleston, have also been romantically linked after both Neil and Alex recently ended long term relationships prior to the show beginning.
MORE: Strictly’s Neil Jones pulls out of show leaving partner Alex Scott to perform with Kevin Clifton