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JJ Chalmers needs surgery on war wound after 'Strictly'

JJ Chalmers (BBC - Photographer: Ray Burmiston)
JJ Chalmers (BBC)

JJ Chalmers has revealed he will be having surgery on the war wound in his leg as soon as he is finished on Strictly.

The Afghanistan veteran is currently strutting his stuff on the BBC dancefloor with professional partner Amy Dowden.

He is suffering with pain as a result of shrapnel in his leg but is putting off his op until his time in the programme is up.

Watch: JJ Chalmers announced for Strictly Come Dancing

Chalmers, 33, told The Sun: “My body is covered in scars and it’s full of shrapnel and frag and stuff from Afghanistan, which can sit quite happily for many years without any real issues.

“But the problem is, this one has been exacerbated.”

Picture Shows:  JJ Chalmers, Amy Dowden - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy
JJ Chalmers and Amy Dowden (BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy)

The Royal Marines vet said it may have been exacerbated by physical exertion or even exhaustion.

Read more: JJ Chalmers was being taught to Waltz before Afghanistan explosion

He went on: “Unfortunately, what it does is it looks for the quickest way up to the surface of your skin, which is where the scar is.”

Chalmers said he has a six-inch scar that is inflamed and that he is experiencing “a very tender, stinging pain”.

“When Amy presses up against it, it’s not a very nice thing to poke at,” he added.

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Doctors have said Chalmers needs the shrapnel removed but he will not have it done while he is on Strictly.

Instead, he will undergo surgery in January.

Chalmers served in Afghanistan as a Royal Marine and in 2011 was seriously injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast.

He has made it into the final six on this year’s series of the ballroom contest.

Watch: Shirley Ballas forced to make the call on who goes home!