Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole forced to pull out of this weekend’s show after being rushed to hospital with lung infection
Professional dancer is battling a severe illness and has been forced to withdraw from BBC show
STRICTLY pro Brendan Cole will NOT appear in this week’s live show alongside dance partner Anastacia - as he is at risk of contracting pneumonia.
Brendan was forced to take a break from training after contracting a lung infection at the end of last week.
Anastacia will instead be dancing Brendan’s choreographed routine with Gorka Marquez.
Brendan's doctor said if he pushes his body too far he could once again contract pneumonia like he did earlier in the year on his UK solo tour and become even sicker.
A source close to Brendan, who will once again hit the road for his solo ‘All Night Long’ Tour in January through until April, revealed: “Brendan’s gutted not to be able to dance this weekend.
"Anastacia and him have worked extremely hard and overcome a lot of hurdles to get where they’re at in the competition.
“Brendan’s a perfectionist and extremely hard working so for him to have to take a back seat has been very difficult indeed.
“He has to be careful and listen to his body and a lung infection like he has is no laughing matter. He’s been resting as much as possible on Doctor’s orders.
“Obviously he’s still be very much involved but he’s had no choice but to take a back seat. He cannot wait to get back into the competition for the next week and hopes that Anastacia and Gorka manage to get through to perform again.
“With all the problems the couple have faced this year with Anastacia’s injuries it really is a pain that Brendan’s been taken ill now.
"But they’re both troopers and they hope to make a triumphant return next week.”
A spokesman for Brendan confirmed: “He’s resting on Doctors orders but everybody hopes the rest will enable a return to form for Brendan in next week’s competition.”
Earlier today it was falsely reported that Brendan had DIED.