Strictly Come Dancing tour in chaos as top star is bedbound with illness

07 February 2024 , 08:58

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One star was almost forced to pull out of the show

Strictly Come Dancing's live tour suffered a blow after Annabel Croft was almost forced to miss a performance.

The former tennis pro is currently travelling across the nation with her co-stars including Bobby Brazier, Ellie Leach and Angela Scanlon after her appearance on the BBC One programme. But her future on the tour was left in doubt after she almost took a step back due to ill health.

Annabel, 57, was said to have been left bedridden by her illness and last-minute changes were needed to be made ahead of their live show on Tuesday, February 6. The tour is currently in Nottingham for three shows before it moves to the O2 Arena in London for a string of shows, where it will come to a close on February 11.

Annabel Croft was almost forced to miss a show on the Strictly Come Dancing tour (Dave Hogan/Hogan Media/REX/Shutterstock)

Angela Rippon was also forced to miss shows due to illness (Dave Hogan/Hogan Media/REX/Shutterstock)

"The celebs had a well-deserved day off yesterday but unfortunately Annabel was really unwell," a source told The Sun. They went on to add: "She spent the whole day in bed in her hotel and only emerged this morning to get some water. It seems the day of rest has really helped her though – and she will be ready to rumba later."

A representative for Annabel told the Mirror that she is "perfectly well" and hasn't missed any nights of the tour.

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Annabel's illness comes after veteran broadcaster Angela Rippin was forced to take time out after suffering a "serious asthma attack". The 79-year-old who is the oldest ever contestant told fans last week that she had a "major medical meltdown" while on stage at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena.

In a video shared with her fans, Angela said: "Hello everyone, I'm afraid I've been off the grid for a couple of days because, as some of you may know, I suffered a major medical meltdown at the beginning of the week. When we were in Liverpool I managed to pick up an infection which went straight to my chest. It affected my breathing very badly and, as some of you may know, I do suffer from asthma.

"And on Wednesday evening, when I was about to go on and dance the Cha Cha Cha, I'm afraid the infection triggered a serious asthma attack and when I started to dance, I stopped breathing basically. Which was all a bit scary, not just for me, but for Kai as well because I was a bit like a rag doll on the dance floor – sorry Liverpool. And I think Kai wasn't really quite sure what was happening but, fortunately, we always had paramedics in the arenas when we perform and when I came off they gave me oxygen so I was able to breathe again, and also make the trip to Leeds."

Daniel Bird