Strictly Come Dancing star Greg Wise has thrown support behind his "brave" co-star Robert Webb, who has withdrawn from the 2021 series after three weeks.
On Wednesday it was confirmed the comedian had quit the BBC series, with the reason revealed to be "ill health".
Robert underwent open heart surgery two years ago, and has since been in recovery - while he believed he was fit enough to take on the challenge.
Unfortunately, he recently began to suffer symptoms that led to him being checked over by his heart specialist, who encouraged him to withdraw from the show for the sake of his health.
Now, his co-star Greg has heaped praise on the comedian for putting his health first, but for also giving it a go in the first place despite his major surgery two years prior.
Speaking on Lorraine on Thursday, Greg revealed he messaged Robert as soon as he had heard the news that he was leaving, and called him "immensely courageous" for putting himself first.
He told the host: "Bless him, I wrote to him yesterday evening when he sent us all this beautiful note.
"I said, 'Look mate, you are brave twice. You are so brave to have done this in the first place, and then doubly brave to have said actually I have to stop now'. I mean that takes immense courage."
In a statement released on Wednesday, Robert confirmed his departure and said: "I’m extremely sorry to have to announce that I’m withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing due to ill health.
"Two years ago I had open heart surgery and although I believed I was fit enough to take on Strictly and its demanding schedule, it became clear that I had bitten off way more than I could chew for this stage in my recovery.
"I had begun to feel symptoms that led me to seek an urgent consultation with my heart specialist, and it was her view that it would be better for the sake of my health to step back from the show."
He went on: "I’m proud of the three dances that Dianne Buswell and I managed to perform and deeply regret having to let her down like this.
"I couldn’t have wished for a more talented partner or more patient teacher, and it’s a measure of Dianne’s professionalism and kindness that I was able to get as far as I did. Thanks too to everyone at home who voted for us.
"It was always going to be a difficult mountain to climb (for one thing it’s made of glitter so it’s very skiddy) and I’ve been especially touched by the support from fellow heart patients. I think perhaps I was too eager to impress them.
"They will know that recovery doesn’t always go in a straight line, and I hope they’re not too disappointed that I ran into the limits of my resilience much sooner than I’d hoped."
Robert continued: "I leave knowing that Strictly viewers are in very safe hands and I’ll be cheering for my brother and sister contestants all the way to Christmas. Despite this sad ending, it has been a genuine honour to be part of this huge, joyful and barking mad TV show. Long may it continue."
It has yet to be confirmed if Robert and Diane's departure will change the way the next show works, given another elimination was planned as usual.
Strictly Come Dancing airs this Saturday evening on BBC One, with the results show airing on Sunday night.
