Delta Goodrem Forced to Miss 'Strictly Come Dancing' Due to Rib Injury

Strictly Come Dancing hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe have sent their well wishes to Delta Goodrem after she was forced to miss Saturday's show due to a rib injury. It was confirmed on Monday that the 41-year-old singer had to stop training after injuring her rib and will be given a bye until next week.

Willis addressed Goodrem's absence, calling it "such a shame" that she was missing out on Icon's Week. She reiterated to viewers that the show's rules allow for her to return next week. Radebe added, "Delta my darling, I know you're watching at home, we're all sending you so much love!"

Doctors have advised Goodrem to get as much rest as possible and to sleep upright to aid her recovery. On Monday, she will meet with show bosses and medical staff to determine if she is fit to return. Strictly rules stipulate that contestants are allowed only one bye before they must withdraw from the competition.

Insiders revealed that Goodrem injured herself during training last week but still managed to perform her Salsa routine, which included complex lifts, during last Saturday's live show. She and her professional partner, Kai Widdrington, topped the leaderboard for the second consecutive week with their performance to "Always There/Ain't Nobody" by Jocelyn Brown and Chaka Khan. Hours after the show, Goodrem was taken to A&E after struggling to sleep through the pain.

Meanwhile, Amy Dowden, who was eliminated in week one with her celebrity partner Chris Appleton, is set to return for a performance this Saturday alongside Kai Widdrington. They will dance to Dolly Parton's "Jolene."

In other show news, judge Motsi Mabuse appeared to address rumors of tension between herself and co-host Josh Widdicombe with a lighthearted remark. Following a routine by Cach Mercer, Widdicombe quipped that he and Emma Willis were "dancers." When he directed the joke toward Mabuse, she responded, "Yes Josh, my FRIEND!" This comment led to laughter from Widdicombe and the audience, with viewers noting the moment on X.

Viewers have also begun to warm to the presenting trio of Willis, Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe, with many feeling Radebe is settling into his hosting role. The trio, particularly Widdicombe, faced criticism after the first live show, with some viewers calling Widdicombe a "spare part." Some noted that Radebe's talking coincided with audience applause, making it difficult to hear dialogue.

The judges also experienced a moment of disagreement last week when Craig Revel Horwood called head judge Shirley Ballas a "fun sponge" for her critique. While Revel Horwood is known for his harsh assessments, viewers observed that Ballas was issuing lower scores and receiving more boos from the studio audience.

During Lawrence Robb and Jowita Przystał's Rumba, Ballas, known as the "queen of Rumba," commented that the dance was "not my cup of tea, flat-footed, and too much standing around," despite awarding an extra point for "hitting one nice line." Anton Du Beke disagreed, stating he "liked that style of Rumba," before Revel Horwood branded Ballas a "fun sponge" while praising Robb's "great storytelling." Motsi Mabuse jokingly commented on the perceived tension between Revel Horwood and Ballas, saying, "I feel like a child having to help my parents through a divorce."

The most recent results show saw Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec eliminated after losing the dance-off to Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr. They were the second couple to be sent home, following Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden's departure in week one.

The results show for Strictly Come Dancing airs on Sundays at 7:10 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.