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Anneka Rice out of 'Strictly' group dance after being injured by Anton Du Beke

Anneka Rice has been paired with Kevin Clifton for Stritcly Come Dancing (Credit: LightRocket via Getty Images)
Anneka Rice has been paired with Kevin Clifton for Stritcly Come Dancing (Credit: LightRocket via Getty Images)

Anneka Rice has revealed she was not able to take part in the first Strictly Come Dancing group performance after being injured by Anton Du Beke.

The 60-year-old TV presenter has previously revealed she is undergoing physio treatment for a shoulder injury after suffering a fall earlier in the year. The Challenge Anneka star has now revealed that she was unable to take part in the group dance during the Strictly launch show earlier this month after pro dancer Du Beke, “threw me up in the air” during rehearsals.

Rice told the Radio Times: “We were thrown into learning a complicated group dance.

Read more: Anneka Rice says shoulder injury is 'holding me back'

“I kept shouting, ‘Hang on’, but everyone was onto the next bit. I was baffled.

“Thankfully, Anton Du Beke spontaneously threw me up in the air and over his shoulders before I had time to say, by the way, my shoulder is…’

“And just like that, on the medic’s instructions, I was out of the group dance.”

Tess Daly, Anneka Rice, Kevin Clifton.
Tess Daly, Anneka Rice, Kevin Clifton.

She added “But I’m still here, in my favourite show, and I have Kevin [Clifton] – Kevin! I just keep forgetting that I now have to learn to dance…”

Professional dancer Clifton won the show with Stacey Dooley last year and the pair are now dating.

Rice made her name running around in a jumpsuit on gameshows Challenge Anneka and Treasure Hunt but so far she has been reluctant to strut her stuff for Strictly - despite it being a dance show.

She revealed: “Strictly’s social media team then put on T Rex loudly and asked me to dance. I politely refused.”

Read more: Anneka Rice befriends 'Strictly' champion Stacey Dooley

Meanwhile, Du Beke, 53 - whose previous Strictly partners have included 71-year-old MP Anne Widdecombe, tennis coach Judy Murray, 60 and 63-year-old model Jerry Hall - believes he might finally be in with a chance of winning the show after being partnered with 42-year-old EastEnders actress Emma Barton.

Anton du Beke and Dianne Buswell perform a routine as Presenters, Professional Dancers, Celebrity dancers and Judges onstage during the BBC Strictly Come Dancing Launch at Broadcasting House in London. (Photo by Keith Mayhew / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)
Anton du Beke and Dianne Buswell perform a routine as Presenters, Professional Dancers, Celebrity dancers and Judges onstage during the BBC Strictly Come Dancing Launch at Broadcasting House in London. (Photo by Keith Mayhew / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

He quipped: "I'm very excited about this one. Emma's tall, gorgeous and talented.

"She's an absolute dream and, I've got to be honest, younger than I'm used to.

"And she's got her own teeth. That'll do for me."