Giovanni Pernice blows kiss to Strictly Come Dancing partner Laura Whitmore after last minute injury left her unable to perform

GIOVANNI Pernice blew a kiss to Laura Whitmore after she hurt her ankle and couldn't perform on tonight's Strictly Come Dancing.

The hunk, who still attended tonight's show, was asked by Tess Daly to send her a message after a video played of her becoming more and more strained during rehearsals.

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Gio, who was meant to be performing a jive with Laura, said: "All of us we are missing you tonight and I hope you are well. Get rest and looking forward to the next week. It'll be a different dance so..." before blowing her a kiss on behalf of the team.

The 31-year-old presenter revealed just hours before the live show was due to go on air that she would be unable to perform on tonight's show.

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Laura broke the news on her Twitter page with a statement titled "absolutely devastated" which read: "It was a decision taken out of my hands.

"If it was my choice, I'd be on the dance floor doing my jive with Gio. This was by far my favourite dance."

Giovanni admitted that the jive was also his favourite dance, and they were due to perform rock and roll classic Reet Petite.

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She and partner Giovanni have been given a 'bye' through to next weeks show, with Strictly bosses wishing her a speedy recovery.

Laura's exit from tonight's show is the second loss to tonight's performance after professional dancer Brendan Cole was also forced to pull out because of ill health.

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His dance partner Anastacia danced instead with Gorka 'The Corker' Marquez, who previously appeared on this year's show with Tameka Empson.

Several other professional dancers, including Katya Jones and Anton DuBec, have also fallen ill with a mystery bug, but have been cleared for performing tonight.

Catch the results of tonight's Strictly Come Dancing, tomorrow at 6.30pm on BBC1. 

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