“Thank you to the Strictly family for the experience, the medical team for trying to get me back on my feet and mostly, to everyone at home for watching and supporting.
“Strictly Come Dancing has been a lifelong dream and I’m glad it came true.”
‘AJ and Kai have performed some unforgettable routines’
Odudu said that she would be cheering on the two remaining pairs – Rose Ayling Ellis with dancer Giovanni Pernice and John Whaite with dancer Johannes Radebe – who will face the first head to head since Strictly’s series nine in 2011.
Prior to changes in 2012, the programme’s two-part final format meant one of the final three couples was eliminated in the first show, with a public vote deciding the winner from the two remaining pairs in the second show.
This effectively created a clear second and third place, positions which the BBC scrapped in favour of joint “runners up” with a format change that entailed all finalists dancing in one show before the declaration of the winning couple.
Viewers will only be able to vote for Whaite and Johannes Radebe or Ellis and Pernice to decide this year’s winner, after a fraught series marked by injury and illness.
Robert Webb pulled out over health concerns after having recently undergone heart surgery, and later announced that he would not be attending the final as a guest. Former Rugby player Ugo Monye withdrew from the competition after an old back injury flared up.
Presenter Judi Love pulled out of one week after contracting Covid-19, with chef and social media influencer Tilly Ramsey also forced to miss out due to the virus which first struck down musician Tom Fletcher and his professional partner Amy Dowden in only the second week of the series.
In a statement on the latest injury in the series, Strictly’s executive producer Sarah James said, “AJ may not be able to compete in the final but she is and always will be one of the most brilliant Strictly finalists we have ever had.
“We cannot thank her enough for fully embracing the experience and being a total delight both on and off the dance floor.
“AJ and Kai are a wonderful partnership and have performed some unforgettable routines over the last few months.
“Although this is not how we would have wanted her Strictly journey to end, AJ’s health and wellbeing come first and everyone involved in the show send her all our love and wish her a speedy recovery.”
