She may have been forced to pull out of the Strictly Come Dancing final due to injury but AJ Odudu took central stage tonight.
Sitting in the audience alongside dance partner Kai Widdrington and looking radiant in a silver sparkling dress and matching crutches, the audience burst into applause when she was introduced.
The visibly upset star said she felt like her heart had broken when she was forced to pull out with a ruptured ligament in her foot but she had enjoyed the time of her life during the series, which was won by Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice.
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She said: "I'm so disappointed to be bowing out of the competition but I'd rather it happened like this than not at all."
She said she couldn't have imagined that her last dance during the semi-final would be her last dance of the series but she thanked all her family, friends and viewers for their support as well as Kai, who had described her as "an incredible partner".
Host Claudia Winkleman said AJ was "an extraordinary Strictly finalist" despite not being able to dance while judge Shirley Ballas said she was "phenomenal" and Craig Revel Horwood said she could dance professionally.
As well as Rose and Giovanni, the remaining finalists were John Whaite and Johannes Radebe, the first all-male pairing.
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