Strictly Come Dancing star Stefan Dennis has opened up on the illness that led to him missing Movie Week last weekend. The Neighbours favorite, who is partnered with Dianne Buswell, is expected back on the famous BBC One dancefloor this Saturday after making a recovery.
Appearing on spin-off show It Takes Two, host Fleur East asked him what exactly led to his absence.
"I had a little bit of a turn, a little bit of an episode with vertigo," he explained.
"But it was all OK, I made myself right again with the help of some good people at the hospital. It's all OK."
He added: "I've got to say to everybody out there, thank you for all your lovely well-wishes and wanting me to be on the recovery and back on the dance floor. Which I now am!"
Related: Best streaming services
What to Read Next
Dianne previously had to speak out to shoot down speculation that the couple's absence was related to her pregnancy.
She is expecting her first child with partner Joe Sugg, and wrote on social media: "Just to clarify as I have had lots of people msg me thinking this is a cover up for me being not able to dance!?
"Firstly, we wouldn't lie especially about somebody being sick! And secondly, I am fine, yes I am pregnant, but I'm also very capable and feeling really good!"
She added: "Thirdly, there are things in place if any pro were to get sick or injured."
Related: Strictly Come Dancing star Lewis Cope explains "muted" reaction to first 10
On watching the other couples' performances on TV last week, Stefan recalled: "It was an odd experience. In one sense I was watching all my new mates on the telly. But at the same time I was absolutely gobsmacked at the level of talent that was on the dancefloor and on the screen in front of me."
This weekend, Stefan and Dianne will make their return with a Charleston to 'Dance Monkey' by Tones And I.
Elsewhere, there will also be two rumbas, with Alex Kingston performing to Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car', and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey moving to 'It Must Have Been Love' by Roxette.
Amber Davies is taking on the first Argentine Tango of the series, while there will be two Couples Choice routines: one from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and the other from Ellie Goldstein.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Interested in talking about Strictly? Visit our dedicated sub-forum
Read more Strictly news on our dedicated homepage
The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Ariana & Witches in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.
Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online, specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who'll listen.
