Strictly Come Dancing: Ankle injury forces professional dancer Carlos Gu forced to pull out of Christmas special

Top left clockwise: Kai Widdrington, Carlos Gu, Nancy Xu and Neil Jones. Credit: BBCTop left clockwise: Kai Widdrington, Carlos Gu, Nancy Xu and Neil Jones. Credit: BBC
Top left clockwise: Kai Widdrington, Carlos Gu, Nancy Xu and Neil Jones. Credit: BBC | BBC
It is one BBC that seems to lurch from one problem to the next - even when it is the festive season.

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Carlos Gu has been forced to pull out of the show’s Christmas special after suffering an injury.

The 31-year-old will be replaced by fellow professional dancer Gorka Marquez on the one-off episode of the BBC dancing show, after the Chinese dancer injured his ankle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Marquez will partner with TV presenter Vogue Williams on the show, the wife of former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, who was set to be partnered with Gu.

A spokesperson for the BBC dancing show said: “Unfortunately, professional dancer Carlos Gu has sustained an ankle injury so is unable to participate in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special alongside contestant Vogue Williams.

“Fellow professional dancer, Gorka Marquez will be stepping in for him and dancing with Vogue.

“We all wish him a speedy recovery.”

Williams will be joined by racing driver Billy Monger, comedian Josh Widdicombe, athlete and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite and drag artist Tayce Szura-Radix as the show’s celebrity contestants.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Her replacement partner Marquez, 34, has finished as a runner-up on the main series of the BBC dancing show on three occasions, partnered with singer Alexandra Burke in 2017, actor Maisie Smith in 2020, and TV presenter Helen Skelton in 2022.

The one-off show will see the six celebrities perform Christmas-themed routines as they compete to be named Strictly Christmas Champion.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

Telling news your way
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice