AJ Odudu has shared her top tip to the new raft of stars taking part in Strictly Come Dancing to help them avoid being taken out by injury while they compete on the show.
The 34-year-old TV presenter made it all the way to the final of the 2021 season of Strictly alongside dance professional Kai Widdrington, 26.
However, she was forced to drop out of the contest when it came time for the live final after sustaining injury to her feet.
In an effort to help the series 20 contestants of the show – which includes Loose Women star Kaye Adams, singer Fleur East and Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds – AJ has shared her top tip about keeping injury free.
She told The Sun on Sunday: “Yes, definitely watch out for their ankles and feet. Start stretching now!”
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Having bonded with her co-stars last year, AJ said that the 2022 raft of stars taking part can look forward to making new best friends.
She said: “The (Strictly) WhatsApp group is still alive and kicking.
“Recently we were all cheering on Adam Peaty in the Commonwealth Games.“I’ve made friends for life there.”
With the series set to return on September 17, an early favourite may have emerged in the form of ex-Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton.
The TV host has sparked something of a ‘fix’ furore with less than a month to go before the new season debuts.
It is feared Helen will have an unfair advantage after it emerged she is already and award winning dancer.
In a 2016 interview, she was asked to reveal a little known secret about herself, and she explained: “I won a Ken Dodd tap-dance award when I was 17.”
And she later added: “Not a lot of people know this, but I’m very good at tap dancing. People are often amazed I can tap dance.”
Despite previously speaking out about her successful dancing past, the star has been attempting to give the impression she is a total novice ahead of the upcoming season of Strictly – which will be the 20th series.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live last week, Helen declared: “People keep saying, ‘Can you dance?’ and I say, ‘No’ because isn’t it the point to learn to dance?”
Meanwhile, some fans are predicting that Giovanni Pernice has been given a leg up for the upcoming season as rumours swirl he will be matched with a man.
The Italian stallion won last years' contest after he was matched with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis.
However, should he be paired with a man, it is anticipated that he will draw extra attention on the dancefloor as he declared earlier this month: "It would give me a chance to challenge myself with new routines, you have to think more about it."
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