Delta Goodrem Misses Strictly Icons Week with Rib Injury

Delta Goodrem will not compete in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend due to a rib injury. The Australian Eurovision star and her professional partner Kai Widdrington have been given a bye, automatically progressing to the fifth week of the competition.

Delta Goodrem stated she is 'gutted' about missing Strictly due to her rib injury. She has been advised by doctors to rest, which prevents her from dancing. In a statement, she said she will focus on resting and recovering and hopes to return to the dancefloor soon. She thanked everyone for their love and support and will be cheering from the sidelines.

Bye and Schedule Impact

A Strictly Come Dancing spokesperson confirmed Delta Goodrem will receive a bye through to next week. This means she and Kai Widdrington will miss the fourth week of the competition entirely. The BBC announced the injury and absence this weekend following medical advice.

Partner's Response

Kai Widdrington appeared on the companion show It Takes Two to discuss the setback. He said Delta is 'in really good spirits' and 'looking fabulous' despite her injury. He confirmed they would slow down next week and ease back into training.

Their planned routine for Icons Week was a Cha Cha Cha tribute to Olivia Newton-John. Kai Widdrington said: "We would have been dancing the Cha Cha Cha to Olivia Newton-John's 'Xanadu'." He joked that their Cha Cha might be 'cursed' but noted that Delta reminded him she wants their next performance to be 'iconic'.

Fan Reaction and Context

Fans expressed concern on social media platforms like Reddit, with some worrying the injury might be a prelude to her withdrawing from the show entirely. Others hoped for her swift return. Fans also noted that Delta Goodrem had previously postponed the launch of her album to February due to her commitment to Strictly.

The singer had topped the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard for the second consecutive week prior to her injury. Wishes for a speedy recovery have poured in, including from fan communities like Aussievision. For now, Delta Goodrem will be cheering from the sidelines.