Strictly Come Dancing’s Neil Jones will not perform in this week’s show.
The 37-year-old professional dancer has decided not to participate in the live show for the second week in a row on Saturday (02.11.19) because he doesn’t feel "ready" after a muscle in his leg popped out, resulting in a devastating and excruciating injury, just hours before the Halloween special last week.
Speaking on the show’s sister programme ‘It Takes Two’ on Friday (01.11.19), he said: "No, I won’t be dancing tomorrow. I have tried, I am just not ready yet."
Neil’s decision to sit another week out in order to recuperate means that his partner Alex Scott will dance with Kevin Clifton again but he’s promised that he will be ready to start training again bright and early next Monday (04.11.19).
He said: "Nail the dance, go through, and I am ready for you on Monday morning."
Kevin was forced to step in and perform with Alex last week just 45 minutes before the show was due to air and some fans argued that they were at a disadvantage because the professional hadn’t had time to learn and rehearse the dance.
Despite the last-minute change, Alex sailed through to the next round of the competition and Neil has been teaching her and Kevin his routine on crutches.
Following news that he’s still relying on the walking aid to get him through the day, some fans have urged him to quit the show and allow Kevin to dance with Alex until she gets the boot from the competition.
However, that result will no doubt be devastating for Neil as Alex is the first celebrity contestant he’s been partnered with since he joined the show in 2016.
Neil isn’t the only person to suffer an injury this series as Will Bayley was forced to pull out of the competition days ago after he tore a ligament in his knee.
Neil Jones pulls out of Strictly Come Dancing this week
