‘Neighbours’ star Stefan Dennis Exits ‘Strictly Come Dancing‘ Following Calf Injury
Stefan Dennis, known for his decades-long role as Paul Robinson on the Australian soap opera Neighbours, has withdrawn from Strictly Come Dancing due to a torn calf muscle. The 66-year-old actor sustained the injury on Saturday, forcing him to leave the BBC competition alongside his professional partner, Dianne Buswell.
Dennis announced his departure in a statement, expressing gratitude to the “Strictly Family” and Buswell for the chance to participate.”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 said.
The withdrawal comes after Dennis briefly returned to the show following a health scare earlier in the series.He missed his week three performance due to vertigo, explaining during an appearance on Strictly: It Takes Two that he had “a little bit of a turn, a little bit of an episode,” but had recovered with medical assistance.
He and Buswell achieved their highest score of the series – performing a Charleston to Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey” – in week four on Saturday, earning praise from judge Shirley Ballas, who said Dennis had come “back with a bang” and pushed his limits.
Dennis first appeared on Neighbours in 1985 and has featured in over 6,000 episodes across four decades, making him the longest-running character in Australian television history.
Buswell is making history this Strictly series as the first professional dancer to compete while pregnant, stating ahead of the show’s launch, “I’m still doing everything I did before,” and adding on her podcast Winning Isn’t Everything that while “obviously with lifts there’s going to be a bit more caution,” her doctor has confirmed everything is normal.
Dennis and Buswell are scheduled to be interviewed on Strictly: it Takes Two on Wednesday.
