AJ Odudu has pulled out of the Strictly Come Dancing tour on medical advice after injuring her foot ahead of the live final, it has been announced.
The 'devastated' TV presenter, 33, will be replaced by ex EastEnders actress Maisie Smith, who was a finalist in the 2020 series.
Maisie will perform with professional dancer Kai Widdrington, who was paired with AJ during the 2021 series.
The tour will be Maisie's first gig since her last scenes for EastEnders aired in December, after she announced her departure in October.
Maie will join series winners Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, alongside Sara Davies and Aljaz Skorjanec, Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin, Rhys Stephenson and Nancy Xu, John Whaite and Johannes Radebe, and Max George and Katya Jones performing to fans across the UK.
Sharing the news today, AJ said in a statement: "I’m devastated not to be able to take part in the Strictly tour due to injury.
“I had hoped for one last dance with Kai, but I must obviously follow the medical advice.
“I wish my Strictly family the very best of luck on the road and I’ll definitely be there to cheer them on.”
After it was revealed she would be AJ's replacement, soap star Maisie said: “I’m thrilled to be asked to restart my Strictly journey on this year’s arena tour.
“Kai and I will be dancing the quickstep and the samba – I can’t wait for rehearsals to start next week.
“It will be a joy to dance with everyone and so great to see my EastEnders friend Rose again.
"I wish AJ a speedy recovery," she added.
The news is another blow to AJ who was forced to pull out of the live final of the 2021 series after suffering a torn ligament in rehearsals.
The TV presenter had consistently impressed the judges with her routines but her absence meant the final went ahead with just two celebrity contestants – EastEnders actress and eventual winner Ayling-Ellis and TV baker Whaite.
The tour will also feature group performances from the show’s professional dancers – Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Neil Jones, Jake Leigh, Cameron Lombard, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal – while the judging panel will be made up of Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli.
The show will be hosted by It Takes Two presenter and former Strictly professional Janette Manrara.
The live tour will kick off in Birmingham on January 20, before travelling to Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow and Nottingham. It will finish at London’s O2 Arena on February 13.
