Strictly star AJ Odudu pledges to win race against time to be in final despite injury leaving her unable to stand up
STRICTLY star AJ Odudu faces a race against time to recover from a horror injury that could see her forced to quit this weekend’s final.
The TV presenter, 33, is hobbling on crutches with ligament damage to her foot which means she can barely stand.
Last night, AJ — sitting alongside pro partner Kai Widdrington — broke down on TV as she told how the pain was so bad she threw up.
She said on spin-off show It Takes Two: “We felt really positive after training on Monday.
"But the pain came on so suddenly and acutely that I actually projectile vomited.
"I’m unable to stand on my right foot and I can’t stand without crutches.”
She added: “I’m really upset — I’m sorry. I’m upset because we were so excited on Monday.
“We’ve got three amazing dances that we really want to perform.
"I know I’m getting upset but I am genuinely remaining hopeful.
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“I’m surrounded by a really great medical team who are trying to get me back on my feet.
“I’ve got Kai, who is really holding me together.”
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The injury setback comes just days before Saturday night’s final where she was due to face John Whaite with Johannes Radebe and Rose Ayling-Ellis with Giovanni Pernice.
Earlier, AJ revealed Kai, 26, had been ultra-positive about their chances of making the final.
She said: “I’m doing everything I can to try and be there on Saturday night.
"Our show dance is this beautiful, epic dance that we have stepped through.
"But it’s one of those things that you need the practice in order to give it everything, essentially.
“But even now, when I’m hobbling around the place, Kai is still being really positive and going, ‘We’re gonna get you on the dance floor’.”
The BBC already has a contingency plan in place to fill the two-hour five-minute slot in Saturday night’s schedules if she has to drop out.
Shrewd producers drew up a new running order in the event of a no-show from Covid.
And the final was dealt another blow yesterday when Tilly Ramsay revealed she had tested positive.
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The TV star, 20, said she was “so sad” to miss performing in a group dance but would instead be “cheering on the amazing finalists from home”.
Robert Webb and Nina Wadia will not feature either, while pro dancer Karen Hauer is injured.
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