Strictly star AJ Odudu is on crutches after an injury scare just days before the final.
She missed training yesterday after experiencing “severe” pain in her foot and had an emergency scan.
However, a show insider said they were “hopeful” the TV host would be fit for the final but she is “currently trying and rest her foot”.
A source said: “This is the worst possible timing but AJ is a real trooper and will keep going no matter what. The pain in her foot was terrible.”
AJ had made this week’s final alongside EastEnders star Rose Ayling Ellis and former Bake Off winner John Whaite.
Her impressive dances this series include her semi-final quickstep with Kai Widdington’which won them their first top marks 40.
The triumph came after they had landed in the bottom two the previous weekend.
After the quickstep, Anton Du Beke told the couple: “If ever there was a dance I wanted to be in, it’s that,” while the other three judges all heaped praise on them.
But behind the scenes, she has found the dance schedules gruelling and has had physiotherapy every day for a week due to back problems.
She told contestants she felt “battered” by the rigorous training.
Going into Saturday’s show, AJ and Kai were second favourites, with latest odds of 7/1, behind Rose and Giovanni Pernice.
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Since the show started, rumours have swirled that AJ and Kai are more than just friends. But AJ said last week: “I think this goes to show we are getting on really well. But we just really want everyone to focus on what we’re doing on the dance floor.”
Kai added that if it looks like the two are close, it means they’re doing their job.
This week AJ said: “Still can’t believe we’re BBC Strictly finalists. I’m so happy I could burst. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”
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