Strictly Come Dancing: Laura Whitmore Will NOT Be Appearing On Tonight’s Show

It’s all gone a bit mad over at Strictly Come Dancing HQ this weekend, after it emerged that Laura Whitmore would NOT be taking part in this week’s show.

The Irish TV presenter has suffered a pretty nasty ankle injury, and has been advised to stay out of the competition this week to give herself time to mend.

Copyright: [Instagram]

Strictly Come Dancing released a statement just hours before the live show was due to start today, that read:

“Laura Whitmore will not perform on tonight’s Strictly Come Dancing due to an ankle injury sustained earlier in the week,” the statement read.

“She has been checked by a doctor and the medical team on site and they have advised that she rests her ankle and does not dance this weekend.

"As per the rules of Strictly Come Dancing - because Laura and Giovanni cannot dance on tonight’s show - they will receive a bye through to next week and the show will continue with a public vote as per usual.

"We wish Laura a speedy recovery.”

Copyright: [Rex]

Laura issued her own statement on Twitter – thanking fans for their support and apologising for letting her fans down:

“We all train really hard. All of us dancing have aches and pains and I didn’t realise the severity of my injury until it was too late. I’m sorry to let you all down.

"My priority is to follow the doctor’s instructions to get myself on my feet again without permanent damage and do the thing I love the most, dancing!

"Thanks, all of my fellow contestants for the support they have given me in the last 24hrs.”

It comes as Brendan Cole – Anastasia’s dance parter – has been left out of tonight’s show, following a lung infection.

Get well soon, gang!