02 December 2023 , 16:09
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Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones has been dealt a devastating show blow after celebrity partner Nigel Harman quit.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the former EastEnders actor's, 50, exit on Saturday, saying: "Unfortunately Nigel has sustained an injury which means he is unable to perform in tonight’s show and has had to withdraw from Strictly." This is the second quit of the series as Amanda Abbington, 51, left the BBC Latin and ballroom show a few weeks back due to personal reasons.
On Friday, December 1, Nigel and pro partner Katya, 34, appeared on It Takes Two to speak to presenter Fleur East as they shared their excitement for Musicals Week, where they were due to perform the Charleston to Step in Time from feel-good movie and musical Mary Poppins on Saturday night.
Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones has been dealt a devastating show blow after celebrity partner Nigel Harman quit (BBC)During the interview, Fleur, 36, pointed out that this is the furthest Katya has got on the competition in six years. She said: "Nigel, this is the furthest Katya has got in six years...", asking if he was determined to go all the way to the final.
Nigel replied: "I'm just glad that people get to see her dance in colour because that last time it was still in black-and-white television" with Katya joking: "It was so long ago!" Nigel added: "It's brilliant for her, it's brilliant for us, it's Musicals Week as well, which for me, is a great week. I love musicals! We just feel really grateful to be here."
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This weekend, the four remaining celebrities will be taking to the dance floor for the semi-finals in a bid to impress judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke.
Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell, Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe, and Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin will all be hoping to impress for Musicals Week as the competition hots up. Bobby, 20, and Dianne, 34, will perform a Salsa to the classic I've Had the Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing.
Ellie, 22, and Vito, 31, will be performing a Quickstep to Belle from Disney classic Beauty and the Beast. Annabel, 57, and Johannes, 36, will perform a Foxtrot to For Good from the incredible musical Wicked. Layton, 29, and Nikita, 25, will be hoping to land back on top of the leaderboard with their Paso Doble to Backstage Romance from Moulin Rouge.