Shirley Ballas gives an update on Nick Knowles after he missed a week of Strictly – and fuming fans branded it ‘unfair’
SHIRLEY Ballas has issued a fresh update on Nick Knowles after he was forced to pull out of Strictly last weekend owing to injury.
The BBC head judge spoke out on Nick as she appeared on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK.
Nick was forced to withdraw from last weekend’s edition of Strictly Come Dancing after he injured himself after falling when he did a jump during a dress rehearsal – leaving him on crutches.
It is the second injury to blight Nick on Strictly after he injured his shoulder and arm while changing a car tyre.
It threw his place on the contest into jeopardy after he was given a bye to the next round as per BBC guidelines.
If he is unable to return to the contest this weekend, Nick risks losing his place on the show altogether.
However, Shirley has now admitted she is very hopeful that the star will be back dancing on the programme on Saturday night.
Speaking on Virgin Radio UK this morning, Shirley said: “Apparently, he is possibly on the mend.”
Shirley admitted she “wasn’t sure” what injuries he had sustained and to what body parts as she spoke to Chris about the budding celeb dancer.
She added: “We are hoping that by the weekend he will be back because he is an assert to the show.”
Fans were at first left fuming when it was revealed that Nick would be given the chance to remain in the contest without having to compete whilst another star would still be sent home.
Pop singer Toyah Wilcox saw herself axed after a low-scoring number with her pro partner, Neil Jones.
Fans are less than impressed with the DIY SOS presenter who’s complained of a litany of injuries since joining the show.
Writing on social media site X, one fan said: “Nick Knowles has to go.”
Another said: “When he is hopefully able to…”. And what if he isn’t? What do you say to the couple who goes home this week for no reason?”
Nick broke his silence after The Sun exclusively revealed the news, taking to X to say: “I’m absolutely gutted and feeling very very sad.”
Strictly Come Dancing’s Second Week Scores
As is tradition, the first week scores are rolled over and combined into the second week. Here’s how the leaderboard now looks after the combined scores
- Tasha and Aljaz = 65 (30+35)
- Sarah and Vito = 62 (30+32)
- JB and Amy = 58 (31+27)
- Montell and Johannes = 56 (26+30)
- Wynne and Katya = 56 (26+30)
- Shayne and Nancy = 52 (21+31)
- Chris and Dianne = 52 (23+29)
- Jamie and Michelle = 50 (23+27)
- Sam and Nikita = 45 (23+22)
- Tom and Nadiya = 43 (23+20)
- Nick and Luba = 39 (18+21)
- Pete and Jowita = 39 (17+22)
- Dr Punam and Gorka = 37 (19+18)
- Paul and Karen = 32 (17+15)
- Toyah and Neil = 30 (12+18)
A source said: “Nick won’t be able to take part in Strictly tomorrow night after hurting his knee.
“He was in a dress rehearsal with his partner Luba Mushtuk when he did a jump and landed awkwardly.
“Nick has hurt his knee and is having to use crutches to get around now.
“It is such a devastating blow for him and he is being supported by the Strictly team.
“They are sending him for scans and are doing everything they can to make sure he is okay.”