Will Young will NOT be replaced with Tameka Empson on Strictly

It was reported last night that Will Young had dropped out of Strictly Come Dancing due to “personal reasons” and show bossses have now confirmed that they won’t fill his spot with Tameka Empson.

Tameka broke down in tears when she was told she was leaving the dancing competition on the weekend and her fellow contestant Judge Rinder declared it “depressing” to see her go.

Black TV presenter Melvin Odoom was the first celebrity to be booted off the talent competition and the BBC were forced to defend themselves against accusations of racism, to which they said they have “no control over the way viewers at home voted”.

And despite pressure from fans to recall the EastEnders favourite, producers have put their foot down and insisted the show will go on “as planned” with an elimination each week.

A spokesperson said: “The series will continue as planned with an elimination every week until the grand final.

“The previous eliminated contestants will not be returning to the competition.”

Speaking about how close the contestants and their professional dancers have gotten since joining the show, Judge Rinder told Digital Spy: “All I’ll say and I really mean this and it’s try for both of us [Oksana Platero]: I thought when I used to watch the programme that the way everyone got on was completely rubbish – that it was like North Korean propaganda videos.

“But we all really got on genuinely. And Tameka she was so funny, talented and brought such joy to that community and now she’s gone it’s genuinely depressing.”