Strictly Come Dancing’s worst accidents from a ripped scar to whiplash

Although it’s one of TV’s most glamorous shows, Strictly Come Dancing isn’t always all sparkles and fun – and the quest for the Glitterball trophy does come with its risks and challenges.

Over the years, many celebrities who were hoping to go from a dance novice to a pro have had to drop out of the show or miss crucial performances due to health woes beyond their control.

From minor sprains to broken bones and whiplash, the programme has seen an array of horror injuries since it began almost two decades ago.

Some wounds have even affected stars lives after the show ended – including athlete Jade Johnson who missed out on the 2012 Olympics and Paralympian Will Bayley who says he will live with knee pain ‘forever’.

MailOnline takes a look back at some of the BBC programme’s most notable injuries that were sustained over the past 20 years – from a ripped scar to a popped knee…

Will Bayley – torn knee ligament (2019)

Most recently, Paralympian Will Bayley has opened up about how he’ll have to live with excruciating knee pain ‘forever’ after competing on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2019.

The table tennis player, 36, sustained the injury during rehearsals for the show when he jumped from a table, and it was his second attempt at the move after his professional partner Janette Manrara , 40, said his first was ‘rubbish.’

Will was born with arthrogryposis which limits the range of motion in the joints of his limbs and completed the move with straight knees. 

Recalling the ‘horrific pain’ he experienced as he crashed to the ground, the gold medallist, admitted he thought ‘his whole career was over.’

Speaking to The Sun, Will said: ‘We practiced a few times and I was really careful. But then Janette said my jump was ‘rubbish’ and I needed to smile more and go for it and show a bit of passion.’

Determined to improve, the sportsman ‘went for it’ but experienced ‘the most horrific pain.’

‘I was lying on the floor thinking my whole career was over. I heard my leg crack, I couldn’t breathe,’ he recounted.

‘I’ll never get over that injury – you have it for life. I’ve already got a limiting disability but this on top of it. I wake up in the morning and it hurts. I can now only train for a couple hours before it’s sore.’

Will explained that he ‘didn’t have an issue with Janette’ but felt that she was under pressure from the show’s bosses. They have remained friends since their time on the series.

A representative for Janette told the BBC: ‘Janette had a great time dancing with Will and one of her favourite moments on the show was doing their contemporary couples choice.

‘Her celebrity partner’s safety and enjoyment was always the priority throughout her time on Strictly.

‘Janette has never received any complaints and has maintained friendships with all her partners, including Will.’ 

Carol Vorderman –  fractured rib (2004)

Back in series two of the show, which aired in 2004, Carol Vorderman suffered a painful injury while taking to the ballroom.

The star was partnered with professional dancer Paul Killick and sadly the pair were voted out in the second week.

However, before she left the programme, Carol claimed she fractured a rib and was left with an ‘egg’ on her back as the bone healed.

Speaking to her co-hosts about the experience on her Radio Wales show, according to The Express, the presenter explained: ‘I don’t know whether you’ve broken a rib but what happens is, as the bones knit together again you get this egg on your back where your ribs sit.

‘Because they’re fresh, this sort of egg shape [forms] where the bones knit together, and it sort of goes down in a couple of weeks.’

She added that at the time she showed off her injury to the Countdown audience while filming and let people touch the ‘egg’ on her back.

AJ Odudu – torn ligament (2021)

In perhaps one of the most heartbreaking injuries of the ITV programme, AJ Odudu was left in agony after an injury robbed her of the chance to compete in the final.

The TV presenter, 36, and her professional partner Kai Widdrington , 28, were unable to compete against EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis and Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite after she ripped a ligament during training the day before the final.

AJ, who is from Blackburn, had scored a perfect 40 with a quickstep in the semi-final. 

‘It’s not that I thought I would win – because I didn’t – but I was just gutted because I knew we would have put on a great show,’ she told the Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine. 

She described how a ligament in the arch of her foot was left ‘hanging by a thread’.

‘I literally fell to my knees,’ she said. ‘The pain level was through the roof.’

Rose Ayling-Ellis went on to win the glittering final.

Jade Johnson – popped knee (2009)

Athlete Jade Johnson’s ballroom injury unfortunately went on to affect her career after the programme ended.

The Team GB Olympian, 44, who was paired with Ian Waite on the programme, had represented Britain in both 2004 and 2008, before taking part in the show in 2009 – but was unable to compete at London 2012.

During a rehearsal for Strictly, the athlete’s knee ‘popped’ as she got up, which led to her taking two weeks off the show and eventually being forced to drop out completely.

At the time she told The Mirror of the sad situation: ‘Strictly has cost me my place in the ­Olympics. 

‘I thought the show injury had healed and I was ready to compete. Sadly it flared up just before the trials and made it ­impossible to get through them.

‘When I went to jump, I just couldn’t get off the board. The pain was ­indescribable. Me and my ­physio just looked at each other and started crying. We knew what it meant.’

She added that London 2012 was her ‘dream’ and she thought she had a ‘great chance of doing well’.

Zara McDermott – lost toenails

Months after her appearance on the show, Zara McDermott revealed that she only has three toenails after losing them during the competition. 

While training for Strictly, Zara, 27, shared a photo of her nasty foot wounds including one on her big toe, she wrote: ‘Half my toe has come off tbh.’

During an interview last year, Zara revealed the reason behind her agonising injury, that left her feet ‘bleeding’ was her gruelling training sessions.

She said at the time it was a tough ride during rehearsals when her pro partner Graziano di Primo made her wear ‘men’s shoes’ which left her feet sore and cut.

Speaking at the Who Cares Wins awards, Zara said: ‘Graziano told me not to go for the heels but to dance in men’s shoes at the start.

‘I told him, ‘It’s not working, I need to take them off’ and he said, ‘No, no you’re fine’.

‘I said honestly it’s hurting and I took them off and my feet were bleeding. I was like, ‘I told you I am not being dramatic!’

Angela Rippon – cut open leg (2021)  

Angela Rippon, 79, reportedly cut open one of her legs with a high heeled shoe while she was taking part in the 2023 series alongside pro dancer Kai Widdrington.

But her agent Sue Ayton claimed ‘controlling’ bosses stopped Angela from speaking about her injury so as not to harm the ‘fantasy’ image of the show.

Appearing on BBC Radio 4, Sue said: ‘Angela was writing a column at the time for a newspaper and she wanted to include this because it was such a wonderful story how everyone had come together.

‘And we were told to scale this back, you are not to mention you cut your leg and there was blood. Well, why not?

‘Because this is showing the BBC at their best. We were encouraged to play down the fact that she had hurt herself so as not to puncture the illusion and fantasy.’

Unimpressed with this, Sue added: ‘And I felt that was too controlling and the public would like to know some of that.’

Representatives for Strictly Come Dancing declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. 

Jamie Laing – damaged tendon (2019)

Reality star Jamie Laing was forced to drop out of the 2019 series of Strictly before it even began, after sustaining a foot injury.

At the time, the Made In Chelsea stalwart, 35, took to Instagram on Thursday to upload a disappointed video message breaking the news, as the BBC released a statement. 

He said: ‘Hello everyone, I just wanted to give a quick update because it’s been released now. Because of my injury, I won’t be competing on Strictly this year, which is incredibly devastating and really upsetting. 

‘But these things happen in life, and when they happen, you have to push forward and be positive.’ 

It was reported that the star had damaged his tendon in his right foot after landing awkwardly during the pre-recorded group dance. 

He was pictured hobbling around London on crutches a few days later, with his foot encased in a protective moon boot.

Producers allowed Jamie to instead compete one year later on the 2020 series of the show.

Nigel Harman – fractured rib (2023)

On last year’s show, soap star Nigel Harman fractured a rib while filming the programme.

Despite being one of the show’s favourites, the actor, 50, had to withdraw from the competition after sustaining the injury during dance rehearsals. 

At the time, Nigel, who was partnered with professional dancer Katya Jones,  expressed his disappointment at seeing his Strictly journey abruptly end just weeks before the final.

He said: ‘I was about to be caught by some very handsome men but when I landed, I’ve done something to my rib. I’m a little high on painkillers.’

Asked by host Claudia Winkleman if he had enjoyed his time on the show, Nigel said: ‘Oh I’ve loved it, I’ve loved it. This hasn’t really sunk in.

‘When I was watching everyone coming down the stairs, it was real that I’m not part of it anymore.’ 

Denise Van Outen – whiplash (2012)

Denise Van Outen suffered whiplash from practicing the jive with dance partner James Jordan back in 2012.

At the time, she told fans on X (formerly Twitter): ‘On my way to BBC. I can’t move my neck, hurting so much. Ouch.’ 

The actress, 50, spent some time wearing a neck brace and receiving treatment from a physio, but continued with her journey on the show.

Appearing on Vernon Kay’s Radio One show in 2012, she explained: ‘We do lots of spinning. On Thursday morning we danced it flat out then afterwards I was taken to the doctors. 

‘I’m still in pain but with the adrenaline and my nerves I’ll probably forget about it. It’s such a brilliant routine when it’s done properly!’

Anastacia – ripped scar (2016)

In 2016, Anastacia was deemed too unfit to dance against fellow bottom place contestant Melvin Odoom after she ‘ripped’ her mastectomy scars during training.

Her injury caused her to become the first contestant in the show’s history to pull out of a dance-off. 

To stay safe in future shows, Anastacia’s dance partner Brendan Cole was told to carefully choreograph future routines.

The 55-year-old – who had a double mastectomy in 2013 after having breast cancer diagnosed for a second time – feared she would be going home for further surgery. 

But, thankfully, scans revealed that there was no permanent damage.

The singer said: ‘I danced on Saturday even though the doctor had advised me to rest after I ripped the scar tissue around where I had my double mastectomy. 

‘After that I was unable to dance again and I was devastated that I couldn’t take part in the Dance Off.’

The Mirror reported that after telling Tess Daly she was ‘scared’ but that she would ‘do it,’ she ‘had a word with producers backstage and started gushing tears. 

‘Recording was delayed as staff tried to calm the distraught star.’

Her injury meant the BBC had to resort to using the public vote alone, and the 48-year-old was saved by receiving more votes than Odoom and professional dancer Janette Manrara.

Simon Rimmer – thigh injury (2017)

Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer, 61, injured his thigh during the 2017 series after he fell during a dance-off.

He was grooving his way through the Charleston with professional dancer Karen Hauer in a bid to keep his place on the programme when he suffered a tumble. 

He revealed the nature of the injury in an appearance on the show’s spin off It Takes Two at the time.

Simon said: ‘I’ve got a bit of pain in my quad and my lovely physio Doug has strapped me up to keep the muscle in place to hopefully heal it and sort itself out.’

Laura Whitmore – ankle injury (2016)

Laura Whitmore was forced to pull out of one episode of her season in 2016 after she horrifically injured her ankle.

Given a pass on one week of dancing after she was forced to stop to prevent irreparable damage, Laura admitted she was in floods of tears when she was ordered to pull out at the last minute. 

The presenter, 39, said: ‘It’s quite upsetting. It was the one we were really looking forward to doing.’ 

‘You spend a while doing a dance, choreographing it but we really didn’t know until right up until the day whether I could dance it or not.’

Laura was reportedly unable to stand due to the intense pain. Doctors believe her injury stemmed from too much jiving – the dance she was learning for last week’s show – and were concerned she’d ripped the ligament.

Speaking on the show with dance partner Giovanni Pernice, she revealed how ‘gutted’ she was to be missing out.

And taking to Twitter, the Irish star added: ‘Absolutely Devastated… 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. We all train really hard. All of us dancing have aches and pains and I didn’t realise the severity of my injury until it was too late. I’m sorry to let you all down.’

Tony Adams – hamstring injury (2022)

In 2022, former Arsenal football player Tony Adams, 57, was forced to quit due to a reported hamstring injury that occurred during a live show.

He was voted into the bottom two to dance again alongside Tyler West and Diane Buswell, but his health woe meant he couldn’t take part so automatically was eliminated.

A BBC source said: ‘After finding out he would be facing the dance-off, Tony had a chat with producers and stated that both he and the physio were concerned that dancing the jive again in the dance-off could cause further injury and he had therefore decided he would instead withdraw from the competition.’

The broadcaster refused to explain what the injury was or how it occurred, citing it as a private, medical matter, though there was wide speculation he had hurt his hamstring, a common complaint for footballers.