Delta Goodrem has been forced to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing’s upcoming Icons Week after sustaining a rib injury during rehearsals.
Injury setback: Australian singer Delta Goodrem and her professional partner Kai Widdrington will sit out this weekend’s live show on medical advice following a rib injury.
Show rules applied: Under Strictly regulations, the pair have been granted a bye directly through to next week’s show, giving Goodrem time to recover.
Ratings slump: The news comes as the BBC hits a wider ratings bump, with last Saturday’s main show pulling in 4.9 million viewers—down over a million from the same weekend last year—while Sunday’s results episode averaged 4.5 million.
The pop star confirmed her temporary departure from the competition following what she described as a heartbreaking medical setback, coming just days after high scores on the ballroom floor.
Delta Goodrem says: “I’m absolutely gutted that a rib injury means I won’t be able to dance on Strictly this week. I’ve been loving every second of this experience, so having to sit this one out is heartbreaking – especially after the high of Saturday night. I can not tell you how much I love being a part of this magical show. I’m going to focus on resting and recovering, and hopefully I’ll be back on that dancefloor very soon. Thank you so much to everyone for all the love and support. It’s so appreciated. I’ll be cheering everyone on from the sidelines this week! Sending all my love, Delta xx”
A Strictly spokesperson says: “Due to injury, Delta Goodrem has been advised by doctors to rest and, as a result, will not dance on this weekend’s Strictly Come Dancing. In line with the rules of the show, Delta and Kai will receive a bye through to next week when it is hoped they will be able to dance again. We wish Delta the very best as she continues her recovery.”
The injury blow arrives at a sensitive moment for the BBC flagship entertainment show. While the series continues to drive online engagement, traditional overnight viewing figures dropped sharply over the weekend. Saturday’s main show recorded an average overnight audience of just 4.9 million viewers—a drop of more than one million year-on-year—before Sunday evening’s results show dipped to approximately 4.5 million viewers during the second elimination of the season.
Icons Week kicks off on iPlayer and BBC One from 6.15pm on Saturday 17 October and will see the remaining couples take on routines inspired by some of the best-loved recording artists in history.