Inside Strictly’s worst injuries from meltdown over weeping surgery scars to accident that ‘cost athlete the Olympics’
IT’S one of the most glamorous shows on TV – but also one of the most dangerous.
Paralympian Will Bayley, 36, today revealed he was encouraged to leap from a table by pro dancer Janette Manrara, despite his concerns and those of his coach, when he was on Strictly Come Dancing in 2019.
After hearing his leg crack and suffering “horrific pain”, Will – who was born with a debilitating limb condition – claims he was taken to a hotel room where his knee was iced instead of going to hospital.
Despite it coming after Janette told him his jump was “rubbish,” he also says bosses made him feel like it was his fault, with his torn knee ligaments forcing him to pull out of the series.
The table tennis ace’s show injury left him depressed, bed ridden and caused a huge impact on his sports career.
Will has now blasted Strictly bosses over his life-changing injury.
He’s the latest celeb contestant to raise concerns over the BBC dance programme, adding his complaint to an investigation into the show, claiming a lack of duty of care.
There have been many other injuries throughout the show’s 20-year history, including one that left Jade Johnson’s Olympic dreams dashed.
Jade Johnson
Athlete Jade Johnson had represented Team GB at the Olympics in 2004 and 2008, before starring in Strictly in 2009.
Unfortunately, however, her London 2012 dreams were dashed thanks to an injury she sustained on the show.
During a dress rehearsal, Jade’s knee “popped” as she tried to get up.
She then had two weeks off, before being forced to quit as the injury wasn’t getting any better.
In 2012, Jade revealed the ligament damage had flared up during training for the Olympics.
Jade said: “Strictly has cost me my place in the Olympics. I thought the show injury had healed and I was ready to compete. Sadly it flared up just before the trials and made it impossible to get through them.”
She added: “London 2012 was my dream… When I went to jump [during the trials], I just couldn’t get off the board.
“The pain was indescribable. Me and my physio just looked at each other and started crying. We knew what it meant.”
Carol Vorderman
Carol Vorderman was partnered with Paul Killick on Strictly, all the way back in series two.
Despite only lasting two weeks, the former Countdown host still managed to get an “egg-shaped” fractured rib during her time.
Speaking on Radio Wales, she explained: “I don’t know whether you’ve broken a rib but what happens is, as the bones knit together again you get this egg on your back where your ribs sit.
“Because they’re fresh, this sort of egg shape [forms] where the bones knit together and it sort of goes down in a couple of weeks.
“On Countdown, I’d go into the audience and go, ‘Look! I’ve fractured a rib, have a feel of this egg!’
“People were touching my back! But it did hurt.”
AJ Odudu
AJ Odudu’s injury was one of the most shocking – as it was just days before she was due to compete in the 2021 final.
After tearing a ligament in her ankle, AJ was really trying to recover in time, going for ultrasounds, MRI scans and X-rays, two incisions to drain the inflammation around her ankle and also being “strapped up to an ice compression machine for days”.
But her injury was too severe and she had to pull out of the competition.
She said: “I’ve done all I can possibly do to get back on my feet for the @BBCStrictly final. I even asked the docs if I could perform in a medical moonboot!
“But the fact is, I can’t stand on my feet, let alone dance, because I’ve torn my spring ligament.”
Jamie Laing
Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing was forced to quit Strictly before the series had even begun in 2019, when he badly damaged a tendon in his foot through an awkward landing in rehearsals.
Jamie – who was on crutches for a while – was “devastated” at the time.
But he was able to return the next year, making it all the way to the finals with Karen Hauer.
Anastacia
Pop star Anastacia had been diagnosed with breast cancer a few years before she took part in the 2016 series of Strictly.
Then, when she was dancing on a live show, she ripped a scar from her double mastectomy.
Having landed in the bottom two against Melvin Odoom and Janette, Anastacia’s gruesome injury meant she and Brendan Cole couldn’t compete in the dance off.
The show was apparently delayed by 30 minutes as producers tried to calm down the I’m Outta Love singer, as she broke down backstage over fears more dancing would rip the scars even more.
The dance off was eventually binned and, controversially, Melvin and Janette were eliminated. Anastacia was eliminated a few weeks later.
Simon Rimmer
Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer managed to injure himself in 2017, when he fell during a dance-off.
Simon revealed he had sustained a thigh injury on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two.
He said: “I’ve got a bit of pain in my quad and my lovely physio Doug has strapped me up to keep the muscle in place to hopefully heal it and sort itself out.”
Denise Van Outen
During rehearsals for a very energetic jive with James Jordan in 2012, Denise Van Outen managed to get whiplash.
Despite being left unable to move her neck, the consummate professional managed to “dance through the pain” on the live show.
She said: “I’m still in pain but with the adrenaline and my nerves I’ll probably forget about it.
“It’s such a brilliant routine when it’s done properly!”
Nigel Harman
Former EastEnders star Nigel Harman was one of the favourites throughout last year’s series of Strictly.
But he was forced to quit just hours before the live show, a few weeks before the final, after breaking a rib during rehearsals.
Nigel and his professional dance partner Katya Jones were in tears as they explained what happened to Strictly host Claudia Winkleman.
He said: “I was leaping off a rostrum and was about to be caught by some very handsome men and as I flew, I ‘Peter Panned’ as I landed and I was in A&E.
Rumoured Strictly 2024 line-up so far...
Chris McCausland – Comedian, 47
GK Barry – YouTube star, 24
Dave Fishwick – Businessman and TV star, 53
Martin Roberts – TV presenter, 60
Danny Cipriani – Rugby ace, 36
Roman Kemp – TV and radio presenter, 31
Hannah Waddingham – Actress, 49
Helen Worth – Actress, 73
“So I’ve done something to my rib, basically and it’s quite painful. I’m a little bit high on painkillers as well but I’m having a lovely time.”
Katya added: “It’s quite hard to talk right now, I’m not going to lie. But I have absolutely loved every moment, creating magic on the dance floor.”
Tony Adams
Katya’s not been very lucky with her dance partners over the last few years, as Tony Adams had to quit in 2022 as well.
The former Arsenal and England captain was voted into the bottom two against Tyler West and Dianne Buswell.
However, a hamstring injury meant he couldn’t take part in the dance-off, meaning Tyler and Dianne automatically went through over Tony and Katya.
He said: “I’ve got to be honest, it’s tough, physically it’s really tough out there but dancing is really fantastic for you.
“Go out there and enjoy it and pick up new skills and explore.”