Strictly Come Dancing contestant La Voix is leaving the current competition after suffering an injury.
The drag queen’s departure was announced by presenter Tess Daly at the start of Saturday’s episode from Blackpool, saying she had had to withdraw on medical advice.
It had previously been reported that she would not be able to perform on Saturday, but there were hopes that she would return next week with her dance partner Aljaž Škorjanec.
“This is not the ending I imagined, but I will cherish it forever,” the artist, 45, said in a post on Instagram.
Le Voix’s departure is the latest in a series of injuries affecting the show’s contestants. As a result, no one will be eliminated in a dance on this week’s show and the votes will carry over.
La Voix is the alter ego of Chris Dennis, who said before the series that he wanted viewers to meet the man behind the drag act.
The character became a fan favorite last year and finished as a finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
Exact details of the injury were not revealed.
“My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot has other ideas,” La Voix said in her Instagram post.
He added: “Due to an injury, I have been informed that I cannot perform.”
In recent weeks, Strictly viewers have seen La Voix and Škorjanec dance, waltz and foxtrot on the Strictly dance floor.
Last month, actor and Neighbors star Stefan Dennis pulled out of Strictly due to injury, while in September, TV personality Dani Dyer pulled out before the show started after breaking her ankle. She was replaced by actress Amber Davies.
