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Ugo Monye to miss 'Strictly' this week over injury

Ugo Monye and Oti Mabuse danced the Samba for their first 'Strictly' performance. (BBC)
Ugo Monye and Oti Mabuse will not dance this weekend. (BBC)

Ugo Monye is the latest celebrity to have to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing after suffering an injury in training.

The former rugby player only plans to miss a week of the competition if he can recover in time for week five from an ongoing back problem that has been made worse by a tough rehearsals schedule.

Read more: All the celebrities who've had top quit Strictly

His announcement follows Robert Webb, who yesterday broke the news that he would have to leave the BBC One show altogether as he had been getting some worrying symptoms after having open heart surgery two years ago.

Monye tweeted: “Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to dance this weekend on the show. I have a history of back problems which has always been managed under the guidance of medical professionals. Unfortunately this has been causing me some unwanted problems this week!

"I have been advised by medical professionals and with huge support from Strictly to get some treatment & rest to ensure that I can get myself back to full capacity & fighting fit for next week.

"Gutted Oti & I won’t be dancing this weekend but wishing all the other contestants the best of luck & will be cheering them on from home!"

He has been dancing with Oti Mabuse on the show and was praised in week one for his Samba, which he performed just hours after attending his father's funeral.

Programme Name: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 - TX: n/a - Episode: Strictly Come Dancing - Generics (No. n/a) - Picture Shows:  Ugo Monye, Oti Mabuse - (C) BBC - Photographer: Ray Burmiston
The couple hope to return next week. (BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Tom Fletcher and his partner Amy Dowden also had to miss a week of the contest when they tested positive for COVID, but returned to the show last week.

Yesterday, Webb announced that he would have to leave the competition on the advice of his doctor.

Read more: Strictly hit by COVID and 7 other times the pandemic caused chaos for reality TV

He said: "Two years ago I had open heart surgery and although I believed I was fit enough to take on Strictly and its demanding schedule, it became clear that I had bitten off way more than I could chew for this stage in my recovery.

"I had begun to feel symptoms that led me to seek an urgent consultation with my heart specialist, and it was her view that it would be better for the sake of my health to step back from the show."

Watch: Who is Strictly's Ugo Monye?