Stefan Dennis pulls out of Strictly Come Dancing's Movie Week after falling ill
The Neighbours actor had been due to perform a Waltz on the showStrictly Come Dancing star Stefan Dennis has pulled out of this weekend’s Movie Week.
The Neighbours actor, 66, will not be performing in Saturday’s Strictly live show after falling ill.
Strictly bosses have confirmed the news in statement on its official Instagram page.
It read: “Due to illness over the past few days, Stefan Denis has been advised by doctors to rest and, as a result, he will not dance this weekend.”
Stefan will now be given a ‘free pass’ into Week 5 of the competition.
The statement continued: “In line with the rules of Strictly, Stefan and Dianne will receive a bye through to next week when they will hopefully be able to dance again.”
Strictly Come Dancing: Stefan Dennis pulls out
Stefan’s absence from this weekend’s Movie Week was also confirmed at the beginning of Friday night’s Strictly: It Take Two. Host Janette Manrara read out the statement, before saying the entire Strictly team are “sending their best wishes”.
Stefan had been due to perform a Waltz with his partner, Dianne Buswell. Dressed as Shrek they were due to dance to It Is You (I Have Loved).
The new comes after Stefan’s co-star, Vicky Pattison, confirmed that a “nasty bug” was ripping through the cast and crew. The reality star herself had been forced to pull out of an It Takes Two appearance earlier this week.
Speaking on her Get A Grip podcast with Angela Scanlon, Vicky said that her own partner, Kai Widdrington, had also felt unwell.
She told Angela: “There is some horrible bug going around that is sweeping through the Strictly pros and dancers. Kai got it, came into rehearsals yesterday and he just totally deteriorated over a space of hours. In the end I was like: ‘Please go home because I’m now worried I’m going to get it’.”
Vicky then shared: “Then I started feeling ill. Scratchy throat, getting hot and cold, aches and pains. Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m actually ill or if I’m so scared I’m going to be ill.
“So, I went home, stuffed myself full of ginger, turmeric, first defence, all that. Fell asleep, woke up, actually did feel ill, felt fluey, did the same again, woke up today and I feel alright, but I’m just alright, not 100%.”
When is the next episode of Strictly Come Dancing on?
Movie Week kicks off on Strictly Come Dancing at 6.05pm on BBC One tomorrow night (Saturday October 10, 2025). It will be a bumper show, featuring the celebrities’ movie-inspired dances and a very special guest. Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo will be on the show as Strictly’s first guest mentor.
In homage to Cynthia, the pro dancers will be performing a Wicked inspired routine, too. Poor Stefan, he will be gutted to miss it all!
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing’s Alex Kingston reveals she was recently treated for womb cancer
