Jaime Winstone ‘devastated’ as painful injury forces her out of Strictly Come Dancing this weekend
The BBC shared a statement to confirm the newsStrictly Come Dancing star Jaime Winstone will not perform on this weekend’s live show after sustaining a torn abdominal muscle injury during rehearsals.
The BBC confirmed the 41-year-old actress’ absence on Wednesday afternoon.
In line with official show regulations, Jaime and her professional partner Carlos Gu have been granted a bye straight through to next week’s competition while she focuses on resting and receiving medical care.
Doctors order complete rest for Jaime Winstone after muscle tear on Strictly
Jaime admitted she was in considerable pain and shared her heartbreak at stepping aside right when momentum was building.
“I am absolutely devastated not to be dancing this weekend due to a torn abdominal muscle,” Jaime said in an emotional statement. “I am in considerable pain, and my doctors have advised complete rest to give my body the best possible chance to heal.
“As frustrating as it is, I have to put my health first and follow their advice to step away from dancing this week.”
She was quick to show appreciation for the outpouring of support from viewers, adding: “I love every moment of dancing and performing with Carlos, and I am praying for a speedy recovery so that I can continue this magical journey.
“I want to thank everyone for their incredible support so far. It means more than you know. Wishing everyone on the show all the luck, love and strength for Saturday night and I hope to be back on that dance floor very soon.”
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the decision on Wednesday: “Due to injury, Jaime Winstone has been advised by doctors to rest and, as a result, she will not dance in this weekend’s Strictly Come Dancing. In line with the rules of the show, Jaime and Carlos will receive a bye through to next week when it is hoped they will be able to dance again. We wish Jaime the very best as she continues her recovery.”
Dance-off battles and emotional pressure
The sudden physical setback arrives after a tense few weeks in the ballroom for the pair.
Jaime has previously spoken openly about the intense emotional toll of landing in the dreaded bottom two, revealing that the fear of elimination stirred up old school-age insecurities and feelings of vulnerability under the glare of live television.
Despite those nerves, the duo consistently fought their way back. In week two, the pair survived their initial dance-off test when Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden were sent home.
Then, in late October, they faced a split decision in the bottom two against Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr. Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke all voted to save Jaime and Carlos. This overruled head judge Shirley Ballas’s vote for Shaun.
Carlos has publicly rallied behind Jaime throughout the series, praising her resilience, technical growth, and determination during rehearsal weeks.
Will Jaime Winstone return to the Strictly ballroom?
Under BBC production protocol, celebrities forced to miss a single live show due to illness or acute injury are given a medical bye, automatically advancing them to the following round.
Read more: Strictly’s Lawrence Robb fights back tears as he reflects on his journey after triple dance-off exit
While Jaime remains hopeful of returning for next weekend’s broadcast, her participation hinges entirely on medical clearance in the coming days.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, November 7, at 6.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
