Strictly Come Dancing stars hit with illness and injury: Susan Calman and Simon Rimmer among contestants facing fitness battle

The stars are battling a "Halloween curse"
Jeopardy: Gemma Atkinson and Aljaz Skorjanec
Guy Levy/PA
Emma Powell27 October 2017

The stars of Strictly Come Dancing have had a frightful week after being plagued by illness and injury ahead of Saturday night’s Halloween special.

Gemma Atkinson has been forced to rehearse with former contestant Brian Conley’s partner Amy Dowden after Aljaz Skorjanec damaged his neck while practising the Jive.

Sunday Brunch presenter Simon Rimmer has also been battling an injury after hurting his leg during last weekend’s show.

Rimmer was unable to rehearse earlier in the week after falling during his dance-off Charleston with Karen Clifton.

Injured: Simon Rimmer hurt his leg after falling in last weekend's dance-off
BBC

The chef slid onto his knee in front of the audience as he passed someone his violin.

Susan Calman has also been struggling to master her foxtrot after being struck down with a cold.

Ill: Susan Calman was struck down with a cold
PA

“It’s been a hell of a week,” a source told The Sun. “It’s as though half have been hit by a Halloween curse.

On the mend: AJ Pritchard is said to be fine to dance with Mollie King after recovering from a bug
PA

“Every minute counts so AJ’s popped in when he feels up to it to talk Mollie through the choreography. Aljaz has been with Gemma planning their routine while Amy demonstrates the moves.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures

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“But it’s all about chemistry, and these setbacks make pulling it all together in time even more challenging.”

King revealed earlier this week that she had been training with a back-up dancer as Pritchard was feeling under the weather.

In an Instagram story she said: “So it's day two of the cha-cha and AJ did try to come into rehearsals but he had to be sent home.

“So in two days, I've danced the cha-cha with three different boys so stressed would be an understatement.”

Pritchard later tweeted that he was given the all-clear to perform on Saturday night.

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One, Saturday at 6:35pm.

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