Actor Nigel Harman has withdrawn from Strictly Come Dancing just hours before the quarter-final after sustaining an injury, as reported by the BBC.
The Casualty star was scheduled to perform a Charleston with his professional partner, Katya Jones.
A spokesperson stated, “Unfortunately, Nigel has sustained an injury that renders him unable to perform and has had to withdraw from Strictly.”
It remains unclear whether an elimination will proceed this week.
The remaining celebrities include actress Ellie Leach, tennis star Annabel Croft, theater and TV star Layton Williams, and EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier.+ + + +
When asked about the upcoming events this week, a BBC spokesperson commented, “It’s a live situation, and the logistical details will be revealed on the show this evening.”
Initial reports suggested that Harman had suffered a leg injury, but the BBC later clarified that it was a rib injury.
Last Saturday, Harman and Jones performed a Rumba to a cover of ‘It’s All Coming Back to Me Now’ by Celine Dion and received a score of 33 points from the judges.
The quarter-final theme is “musicals week,” and Harman was supposed to dance to “Step in Time” from Disney’s Mary Poppins.
A post on the show’s Instagram page wished him a “speedy recovery,” adding that the couple would be “very much missed by our entire Strictly family.”
Concerned Strictly fans took to social media to express their sentiments about Harman.
“Wishing Nigel a speedy recovery; it’s such a shame to get this far and sustain an injury that is forcing him to quit, but health has to come first,” wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
“Heartbroken for Nigel & Katya. Their Charleston looked fantastic,” wrote another, suggesting that the dance show should not have an elimination tonight.
Another fan suggested that Harman should be given “a free pass” into next week.
Harman had previously expressed his feelings of being “amazed, excited, and terrified” when confirmed in August to participate in Strictly.
He added, “As an armchair fan of the show, I have watched in awe as people have twirled and gyrated across the screen. And now it’s my turn… gulp!”
However, both he and Jones were absent from the lineup of participants for the Strictly Come Dancing live UK tour next year.
Harman is not the first to leave the show this year. In October, actress Amanda Abbington withdrew from Strictly, citing “personal reasons” for being “unable to continue
