Neighbours Star Stefan Dennis Forced to Withdraw From Strictly Come Dancing
London, October 21, 2024 - Actor Stefan Dennis, best known for his long-running role on the Australian soap Neighbours, has been forced to withdraw from Strictly Come Dancing due to a torn calf muscle. The news comes as a disappointment to fans and the show, cutting short his partnership with professional dancer Dianne Buswell.
Dennis revealed the injury occurred on Saturday, stating, “This morning I woke up to the most disappointing day of my time in my Strictly journey. Just when I had finally gained the confidence to do well with my dancing in the comp and achieve more great dances along the way, I was told that I had torn my calf so significantly that I am now forced to withdraw from the show.”
The actor expressed his devastation at leaving the competition prematurely, adding, “I can’t tell you how devastated I am to have to leave so prematurely especially, as there has been, and still is, so much love and support from everyone for both Dianne and myself. I owe both the Strictly Family and Dianne a massive debt of gratitude for giving me the opportunity to fulfil my dream of being able to dance with my wife. (When my leg is better).” He jokingly noted the injury occurred on the same leg previously injured, a detail sure to resonate with longtime Neighbours viewers.
Sarah James, Executive producer of BBC Studios, echoed the sentiment, saying, “We’ve adored having Stefan on Strictly Come Dancing, and are heartbroken that his Strictly journey – and his fantastic partnership with Dianne Buswell – has been cut short. It’s been a joy to see him embrace the series with such enthusiasm and we really hope that, once better, he will keep dancing.”
Strictly Come Dancing will continue with 11 couples.Fans can hear directly from Dennis and Buswell on Strictly: it Takes Two this Wednesday, October 22nd, at 6:30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
