AJ Odudu pulls out of Strictly Come Dancing live tour due to injury
AJ Odudu has pulled out of the Strictly Come Dancing live tour on medical advice, it has been announced.She will be replaced by EastEnders star and 2020 Strictly finalist Maisie Smith, the BBC said."I had hoped for one last dance with Kai, but I must obviously follow the medical advice."
Smith said that she was "thrilled" to be asked to step into her shoes and dance alongside Odudu's regular partner Kai Widdrington, while also wishing her a "speedy recovery". She had hoped they would still be able to take part in the final in some way. "Hey, listen, even if Kai has to just carry me around that dancefloor, and I'll do some armography, we'll make it work," she told the BBC at the time.Ultimately it was not to be, and the pair pulled out leaving another EastEnders star, Rose Ayling-Ellis, and TV chef and former Bake Off winner John Whaite to compete for the glitterball trophy.