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Strictly's AJ Odudu 'on crutches as she suffers painful setback' days before BBC final

Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Odudu is “on crutches” after suffering “severe” foot pain just days before the final.

The 33-year-old television presenter is due to compete in the final of the BBC One dancing show this Saturday with professional dancer Kai Widdrington.

However, reports suggest that AJ missed rehearsals as she underwent an emergency scan following “severe pain” in her foot.

An insider told the Mirror that a “show insider” was “hopeful” she will be “fit for the final”.

They said: “This is the worst possible timing but AJ is a real trooper and will keep going no matter what. The pain in her foot was terrible.”

Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Odudu is “on crutches” after suffering “severe” foot pain just days before the final
(Image: BBC)

AJ scored her first perfect 40 during Saturday’s semi-final for one of her two routines – a quickstep – which judge Craig Revel Horwood gushed was “incredible”.

Her other semi-final routine, a rumba, earned her a score of 39 out of a possible 40, leaving her and EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis joint top of the leaderboard after Saturday night where they both scored a 40 and 39 respectively for their routines.

AJ and Kai are in the running to lift the glitterball
(Image: BBC)

Following the semi-final, Odudu thanked fans for their messages and votes, saying she felt like “the luckiest girl in the world”.

She tweeted: “Still can’t believe we’re @bbcstrictly FINALISTS!!!! I’m so happy I could burst. Thank you for all your votes and kind messages and thank you @kaiwidd for believing in me. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Will AJ and Kai be crowned winners of Strictly 2021?
(Image: PA)

Former Bake Off winner John Whaite and Johannes Radebe and Rose and Giovanni Pernice make up the rest of the trio for the final alongside AJ and Kai.

The BBC declined to comment on the reports, while Odudu’s representatives have been contacted for comment.

AJ plans to celebrate her success on the show with a Sunday roast and a trip to Blackburn.

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She told the Daily Star Sunday: “I don’t want Strictly to end so I’ve been filling my diary with things that will make me happy when it does.

“After the series, I’m going to go home to Blackburn and spend time with my family.

“I want to have a roast dinner as well. We’ll have loads of red wine.”

Strictly Come Dancing final airs Saturday on BBC One at 7pm

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk


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