Judi Love has announced she will return to Strictly Come Dancing after contracting Covid.
She confirmed the good news during an appearance on spin-off show It Takes Two this evening as she made her first public appearance since falling sick.
Judi chatted to host Rylan as she appeared via video link for the BBC2 show, where she confirmed she would be back on the programme on Saturday night.
She said: "I'm alright, I'm here, I've got through it. I was rough but my mindset was about making sure I could get back and that I was safe and everybody was safe. That's the main thing.
"When I stepped on this dancefloor, I was like - this is where I'm meant to be. I missed it so much and it brought back so many memories over the last weeks. And it's Halloween week!"
The presenter is "so happy" to be back on the BBC One dancing show and promised her dance to Physical would be Halloween-themed, in keeping with the show's theme.
"Some people are saying the 80s are dead, but we're going to bring it back to life," she added.
"Let me tell you something, everything [about the costume] is very 80s."
It comes after the Loose Women star shared a video of her laid up in bed where she told fans her symptoms from the virus were 'very real.'
The 41-year-old, who lives in London with her two children, has been isolating after testing positive for the virus last week.
In keeping with government guidelines, Judi was forced to sit out her week 5 performance on Saturday and watch the show from home.
A BBC spokesperson said at the time Judi and her professional partner Graziano di Prima, who were planning to dance to Physical by Olivia Newton John, hoped to return the following week.
Judi and Graziano missed rehearsals on Monday and Tuesday as the 'exhausted' TV star and comedian's recovered in bed.
Taking to Instagram on Monday evening, Judi admitted she'd had a 'rough' couple of days.
"I don't even know what day it is. Some kind of motivation day.
"I just want to say to you guys, Rona is real. I give thanks that I was doing little exercise and dancing thing. I feel like I'm handling it much better than I would have had if I hadn't been doing little exercise and a little sweat."
She went on: "It's been a rough couple of days and it's really about for you to get your health in order. Health is wealth, and I'm not just talking about catching that cheque. I just mean having that health so you can live at your optimum.
"Rona has got me sleeping out here like someone with no ambition! Rona has got me here standing at the window, waving like a black kid that wants to play on a Sunday and her mum says, 'You're mad!' That's what Rona is doing to me!
"I mean, Rona has got you coughing so hard you're begging for a sponsorship from Tena Ladies!
"Rona will take you away from your family and you miss then even though you're in the yard with them. And I mean, some of you are living that life anyway, some of you are locked down in your room, in your laptop, in your phone to the point where you forget you've got family next door.
"Spend time with them because Rona won't miss that opportunity."
Graziano also posted to social media that he and Judi were doing 'their best' to be ready for the weekend, which is the show's hotly anticipated Halloween special.
The former Italian Latin dance champion tweeted: "I’m so proud of this woman, she is the strongest!! She is doing the most important thing, looking after her health. Whatever will happen in the next few days, we will try our best to be on that dance floor again."
Last year, Nicola Adams and Katya Jones were axed from the show in week four after testing positive for Covid.
In the current series, Ugo Monye became the fourth contestant to be eliminated on Saturday night after winding up at the bottom of the leaderboard with Oti Mabuse for their Rumba.
All four judges opted to save CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson in the dance off sending Ugo home.
The sports pundit and former rugby union star became the fifth person to leave overall, after comedian Robert Webb bowed out due to ill health.
Soap stars Katie McGlynn and Nina Wadia were the first stars to be voted off, followed by actor Greg Wise.
Before the series kicked off, Judi admitted she was a huge fan of the dance series and had spent years wanting to take part.
"I think I am still in shock that I will be part of this amazing show. I’ve watched it for many years and admired the phenomenal abilities of these dancers and celebrities that have taken part and dedicated themselves to learning a new craft.
"I’m truly looking forward to pushing myself in something that I could have only dreamed of doing and now it’s actually coming true! I can’t lie, I’m soooo nervous, but excited at the same time."
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One this Saturday at 7.10pm
