Strictly's Ugo Monye gives injury update ahead of live show
He missed last weekend's show
Just one day after comedian Robert Webb announced he'd quit this year's Strictly Come Dancing due to ill health, former rugby ace Ugo Monye last week announced he wouldn't be dancing during last weekend's live show.
Ugo, who is partnered with last year's winner Oti Mabuse, confirmed the news on social media last Thursday (14th October), revealing he was struggling with an ongoing back problem.
After taking a week off, Ugo has now updated fans on the injury, confirming he will be back performing this weekend. Speaking on Tuesday night's It Takes Two, Ugo said he is now "doing ok" after having a few injections into his spine last week, followed by some days of rest.
He said: "It's trying to get a balance between doing enough and not allowing my back to flare up, which is so frustrating because the lines are blurred.
"I want to keep pushing and pushing and pushing, but I don't want to push too far whereby I can't dance on Saturday. That's the tough thing and competitive side of me."
Check out all of the pairings on this year's Strictly Come Dancing:
Judi Love and Graziano Di Prima
Nina Wadia OBE and Neil Jones
Katie McGlynn and Gorka Márquez
Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkova
Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden
Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin
Greg Wise and Karen Hauer
Ugo Monye and Oti Mabuse
Adam Peaty and Katya Jones
AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington
Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu
Sara Davies and Aljaž Škorjanec
John Whaite and Johannes Radebe
Robert Webb and Dianne Buswell
Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice - WINNERS
It was last Thursday the rugby ace confirmed he wouldn't be taking part in last weekend's show. He wrote on social media: 'Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to dance this weekend on the show. I have a history of back problems which has always been managed under the guidance of medical professionals.
'Unfortunately this has been causing me some unwanted problems this week! I have been advised by medical professionals and with huge support from Strictly to get some treatment & rest to ensure that I can get myself back to full capacity & fighting fit for next week. Gutted Oti & I won’t be dancing this weekend but wishing all the other contestants the best of luck & will be cheering them on from home! @bbcstrictly'. (sic)
Within the first three weeks of the competition, Ugo surprised both the judges and viewers at home with his performances, scoring a credible 31/40, dancing to 'You're Welcome' from the movie Moana last time out.
This weekend, Ugo and Oti will dance the Rumba to 'Leave The Door Open' by Bruno Mars.
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