Strictly Come Dancing Shake-Up: Kai Widdrington Forced Out of Saturday’s Live Show Due to Illness as Aljaž Škorjanec Steps In
Strictly Come Dancing has been hit with a major last-minute shake-up ahead of Saturday night’s live show, with professional dancer Kai Widdrington ruled out due to illness. Fan-favourite pro Aljaž Škorjanec will step in at the eleventh hour to partner with Australian singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem for Week 8 of the 2026 competition.
The unexpected announcement was broken live on Friday evening (13 November) at the top of BBC Two spin-off It Takes Two. Addressing viewers at the start of the broadcast, host Ellie Taylor delivered the update: “First some news just in, due to illness, Kai is unable to perform on tomorrow night’s show. Instead, Aljaž will step in to dance the Argentine Tango with Delta. Kai, we are sending you so much love, feel better soon.”
Moments earlier, the official Strictly Come Dancing Instagram account confirmed the change in a statement to fans, though Widdrington has not yet commented directly on his own social media channels.
A Dramatic Twist in a High-Stakes Week
The sudden switch adds an extra layer of pressure for Goodrem, who had been preparing to tackle the notoriously intricate and dramatic Argentine Tango with Widdrington. While the BBC has not shared further details regarding Widdrington’s condition or whether he will be fit to return for next week’s show, the quick pivot ensures Goodrem will still take to the ballroom floor tomorrow night rather than taking a bye.
It marks the second time this series that the partnership has faced an unexpected hurdle. Back in October, Goodrem was forced to sit out Icons Week after sustaining a rib injury, receiving a pass through to the following week before making a triumphant return to the competition. Since returning, the 41-year-old singer has remained one of the frontrunners of Series 24, consistently posting strong scores near the top of the judges’ leaderboard—including a solid 31 points in Week 7.
Aljaž Returns to the Competition Floor
Stepping into Widdrington’s shoes is seasoned Strictly veteran Aljaž Škorjanec. Škorjanec already competed in the 2026 series alongside Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters, though the pair became the second couple eliminated in Week 3. Having remained part of the show’s professional ensemble for group numbers and special routines, the former Strictly champion is no stranger to high-pressure ballroom turnarounds.
Now, Škorjanec has less than 24 hours to finalize rehearsals and step onto the live floor alongside Goodrem to deliver one of the most technically demanding dances in the Strictly repertoire.
Strictly Come Dancing continues tomorrow night (Saturday, 14 November) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.