Strictly Come Dancing Kai Widdrington says it's been "an absolute honour" to dance with AJ Odudu after the TV host was forced to pull out of Saturday's final.
AJ and Kai have lit up the Strictly ballroom this year with routines from their red hot week 1 Jive to their Quickstep in the semi-final, which earned them their first 40 of the series and saw them finish joint top of the leaderboard.
Bu, after bouncing back from their dance-off disappointment a week earlier in serious style, AJ and Kai were dealt a huge blow earlier this week when she suffered an injury in training.
READ MORE: AJ and Kai out of Strictly final due to injury
Just a few days ago, despite being heavily bandaged and on crutches, AJ said she was keeping everything crossed she'd be able to dance this weekend.
However, on Friday, Strictly took to Twitter to reveal she'd withdrawn from the final. The post read: "Sadly due to injury AJ and Kai have had to withdraw from #Strictly and won’t compete in tomorrow’s final. We want to thank them for 13 incredible weeks on the show and the pure joy they brought to the dance floor every week."
And now Kai has spoken out to heap praise on AJ, in a statement which read: "I’ve been absolutely honoured to get to dance with the incredible AJ Odudu for the last few months and although neither of us wanted our journey to end this way, AJ’s health and safety are by far the most important things.
"I want to thank AJ for being the absolute best partner I could ever have asked for in my first year on the show and I will always treasure the memories of dancing in the Strictly ballroom with her."
Former Dancing with The Stars Ireland pro Kai added: "I know we will be friends for life and I will be there for her through her recovery in whatever way I can.
"I want to wish good luck to John & Johannes and Rose & Giovanni for the Final. And finally the biggest thank you to everyone who voted for us throughout the series, your support has been unforgettable.”
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