Strictly Come Dancing may be one of the biggest celeb shows on TV, but it hasn’t stopped some stars from needing to step away for various reasons.
Over the years, multiple members of the showbiz world have cited reasons for stepping away from the show, with Robert Webb being the most recent star to quit.
The comedian left due to health reasons after he was advised to stop doing the show, much to his dismay, while other reasons have involved Covid-19, accidents and even some level of mystery.
Daily Star has dished the dirt on the stars who had to step away – and why.
Robert Webb
(Image: BBC)
Robert left the 2021 series of the show due to his health, with the star confessing that pushing himself to do Strictly two years after his open-heart surgery meant he had “bitten off way more than he could chew”.
Weeks into the show, which saw him partnered with Dianne Buswell, he said that he had started to feel symptoms that resulted in an urgent consultation with his heart specialist.
He said in a statement: “It was her view that it would be better for the sake of my health to step back from the show.”
He shared his regret for “letting down” Dianne, and thanked the viewers at home for their support throughout his time on the competition.
Will Young
(Image: BBC/Jay Brooks/Matt Burlem)
Will Young’s exit from Strictly in 2016 certainly took viewers by surprise as the star successfully started the show with Karen Hauer.
He said he left the show for “personal reasons”, with many viewers questioning what the mystery behind his exit was.
He later told The Times that he had a lot going on personally and wasn’t enjoying the dancing because of that.
Kelly Brook
(Image: BBC)
Viewers were devastated to see Kelly Brook leave the show in 2007 after an incredibly promising start – with many convinced she would get through to the final.
While speculation that she had been rowing with her dance partner Brendan Cole, it seems Kelly’s reasons were a little closer to home.
Kelly’s dad, Ken Parsons, had died of lung cancer at just 57-years-old, and Kelly said that she found it too difficult to carry on with the show while she was grieving.
Will Bayley
(Image: PA)
In 2019 Will was paired up with Janette Manrara, but he maintained an injury early on in the series which caused him to drop out.
He had a knee injury while training and after taking time off to recover, the Paralympian decided to avoid going back entirely so he didn’t jeopardise his chances at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
It was a bad year for the Strictly stars that series, as he wasn’t the only one who sustained an injury…
Jamie Laing
(Image: BBC)
Jamie was another contestant to drop out in 2019 after injuring himself during the launch show – dropping out before the first live show had aired.
Luckily, Jamie was invited back the following year to give the series another go and ultimately reached the final with his new partner Karen Hauer.
His original partner in 2019, Oti Mabuse, went on to win the show with her new partner Kevin Fletcher, and she also landed the top spot in 2020 against Jamie Laing, with Bill Bailey.
Jimmy Tarbuck
(Image: PA)
Jimmy was the first celebrity to ever quit Strictly in 2006, after a doctor’s assessment suggested he should step down from the show.
At the time, a statement from BBC said: “Following a doctor’s assessment this week, Jimmy, the doctors and the BBC have come to the decision that for the good of Jimmy’s health he should no longer take part.”
In 2007, the trophy ultimately went to Mark Ramprakash, a former cricketer.
Jade Johnson
Like Will Bayley, athlete Jade left the show after suffering a knee injury and decided it wasn’t worth the risk.
The Olympian opted to leave the show in a bid to protect her body after hearing an audible “pop” while dancing with partner Ian Waite in 2009.
At the time she said: “I’m a competitor and I don’t give up easily so I’m absolutely gutted that it means that I can’t continue dancing in the show.”
John Sergeant
(Image: PA)
John Sergeant was certainly someone who enjoyed a good laugh, but even for him, the length he got to in the competition was a step too far.
He left because the viewers kept voting for him, but he didn’t believe he was doing too well in the dancing department.
In week 10, he stepped away rom the competition and said: “The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition.
“Even for me that would be a joke too far.”
Nicola Adams
(Image: BBC)
Sadly, Covid-19 threw a spanner in the works for many contestants, and Nicola Adams was forced to step back because of it.
Dancing with Katya Jones, the pair were the first same-sex couple to compete, but due to lockdown rules, they were not able to return to the show.
Although Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden tested positive for Covid-19 this year, a change in isolation rules meant they were able to return after missing just one show.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
