Nigel Harman has pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing after suffering a rib injury just hours before the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Casualty actor, 50, competed to step in time with a Charleston from Disney’s Mary Poppins with his partner Katya Jones on Saturday night.
Harman’s withdrawal leaves just four celebrities in the running – actor Ellie Leech, tennis star Annabel Croft, theater and TV star Layton Williams and EastEnders actor Bobby Brazier.
A BBC spokesman said: „Unfortunately Nigel has suffered an injury which means he is unable to take part in tonight’s show and has had to pull out.”
A post on the show’s Instagram page wished Harman a speedy recovery and said the couple will be „deeply missed by our entire Strictly family.”
BBC Confident Harman suffered a rib injury after initial reports suggested the former EastEnders actor had injured his leg.
The broadcaster did not say whether the eliminations will take place on tonight’s show. „This is a live situation and the logistical details will be revealed on this evening’s show,” a BBC spokesman said.
Last Saturday, Herman Rumba danced to Celine Dion’s It’s All Coming Back to Me Now and scored 33 points.
Anton du Beck called the performance „super duper”, but Herman tried to dance with Jones, letting her act around him instead.
Harman isn’t the first celebrity to definitely quit this year. In October, actress Amanda Abington quit the show after missing a week for medical reasons. He later cited personal reasons for leaving.
„Totalny pionier w sieci. Specjalista od piwa niezależny. Ewangelista popkultury. Miłośnik muzyki. Nieprzepraszający przedsiębiorca”.