Strictly Come Dancing’s Blackpool special, typically a dazzling highlight of the BBC’s beloved dance competition, took an unexpectedly somber turn on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Fans tuning in for sequins and spectacle were instead greeted with the news that La Voix, the renowned drag performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist, had been forced to withdraw from the competition due to injury.
Presenter Tess Daly opened the live broadcast from the iconic Tower Ballroom with the announcement: “Now, as you may have heard, La Voix sustained an injury, meaning that she can’t dance in Blackpool tonight, and following further advice from our medical team, we can now confirm she has, very sadly, had to withdraw from the competition.” Her co-host, Claudia Winkleman, added, “We will be speaking to La Voix on tomorrow night’s show, we love you so, so much.” According to BBC, the news sent a ripple of shock through both the studio audience and the show’s remaining contestants.
La Voix, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, was initially given a bye to the next round after sustaining what she described as a “niggle in my foot” during the November 15 live show. However, the injury worsened over the week, and despite hopes for a swift recovery, medical advice left her with no choice but to step aside permanently. The exact nature of the injury has not been disclosed, but La Voix’s disappointment was palpable. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she wrote, “I’m absolutely devastated to be withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing. This isn’t the glittering exit I ever imagined, and it breaks my heart to feel like I’m letting people down. My spirit wanted to keep dancing but my foot has other ideas.” She went on to thank supporters: “Thank you for every cheer, every vote, and every sparkle of support – it’s meant the world to me. This isn’t the ending I imagined, but I’ll cherish this forever.”
La Voix’s journey on Strictly had quickly made her a fan favorite. Paired with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, she brought her trademark charisma, humor, and technical skill to routines that included the jive, waltz, and foxtrot. Many viewers, as noted by The Independent, had been looking forward to seeing her samba at Blackpool, a venue she described as “iconic” and “a dream for any performer.” Instead, she watched from the audience, cheering on her fellow contestants, her absence keenly felt on the dancefloor.
The show’s producers responded to the unexpected withdrawal by announcing that no contestant would be eliminated during the Blackpool special. There would be no dance-off, and all six remaining couples would automatically advance to the next round, with judges’ scores and viewers’ votes carried over to the following week. The decision, revealed live on air, prompted visible relief and even celebration among the dancers and their partners. Many rushed to embrace each other, a moment that didn’t go unnoticed by viewers at home. As one fan posted on social media, “I genuinely don’t think they knew this was going to happen. Absolutely gutted that this is at the expense of La Voix but THRILLED for them all.”
La Voix is not the first contestant to bow out of this year’s competition due to injury. The Australian actor Stefan Dennis, known for his role in Neighbours, withdrew in October after tearing a calf muscle. In September, TV personality Dani Dyer had to leave before the first live show after breaking her ankle in rehearsals. She was subsequently replaced by actress Amber Davies. The string of injuries has reignited conversations, as reported by BBC and other outlets, about the physical demands placed on celebrities who join the show, many of whom have little or no prior dance training.
Despite the setbacks, the Blackpool special pressed on with its usual flair. Lewis Cope, the former Emmerdale actor, and his partner Katya Jones stole the night by topping the leaderboard with a perfect score of 40 for their Charleston to the Arctic Monkeys’ “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.” Close behind were Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, as well as TikTok star George Clarke and Alexis Warr, both pairs impressing the judges and audience alike. The night’s festivities were a testament to the resilience and camaraderie among the remaining contestants, who rallied to deliver memorable performances in the face of disappointment.
For La Voix, the end of her Strictly journey was bittersweet. As she told fans, “Due to an injury, I’ve been advised that I’m unable to perform, and my heart truly breaks knowing I won’t be dancing in such an iconic venue. Aljaž and I have worked incredibly hard, and we were so excited to share our routine with everyone. I am devastated not to be joining the rest of the cast on that famous dancefloor, but my focus now is on recovery. I’ll be cheering on all the amazing couples this weekend.” Her statement, echoed across social media and news reports, resonated with many who saw her as a trailblazer for drag artists on mainstream television.
Strictly Come Dancing has not been without other off-stage drama this season. As reported by The Independent, the show was rocked by news of a separate legal incident involving a man linked to the program, who was arrested on suspicion of rape connected to an event in 2024. The BBC and Hertfordshire Police have both declined to comment further, emphasizing that the matter is unrelated to the current series. The show’s focus, however, remained firmly on the dancefloor and the emotional departure of one of its brightest stars.
Looking ahead, Strictly returns for its results show on Sunday, November 23, at 7:15 pm on BBC One and iPlayer. The judges’ scores and public votes from Blackpool will be combined with next week’s performances to determine which couples will face the dreaded dance-off on November 30. For now, the competition continues, albeit with a little less sparkle.
La Voix’s exit serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictability and intensity of live television—and of just how much heart, grit, and resilience it takes to step onto that dancefloor, week after week. Her journey may have ended sooner than hoped, but her legacy of joy, courage, and glamour will surely be remembered by Strictly fans for years to come.
