Strictly’s AJ Odudu looks in good spirits as she leaves final sporting a bedazzled medical boot after quitting show due to a foot injury
AJ Odudu looked in good spirits as she left the Strictly studios on Saturday night, despite having to miss the final because of her foot injury.
The presenter, 33, sported a bedazzled fractured foot boot as she exited Elstree studios in a taxi.
She suffered ligament damage to her foot earlier this week and even though she took things easy in recent days, she was forced to pull out from the competition on Friday.
Happy: AJ Odudu, 33, looked in good spirits as she left the Strictly studios on Saturday night, despite having to miss the final because of her foot injury
AJ smiled and flashed a peace sign from inside the car as she was ferried home.
She wore a stunning sequin mini dress which she paired with an eye catching green fluffy coat.
Earlier in the evening, AJ and her dance partner Kai Widdrington spoke to Claudia Winkleman about having to miss the final dances.
She emotionally said: ‘Honestly, Claudia, I don’t know how to describe what it feels like to have a broken heart. But that’s what it feels like.
‘But, we have had the best time on this show and you know, I have been putting on a brave face, Kai has been putting on a brave face.’
Sad: She suffered ligament damage to her foot earlier this week and even though she took things easy this week, she was forced to pull out from the competition on Friday
She added: ‘We’ve loved the show tonight. Rose and John and Johannes and Giovanni are incredible – but we wanted to be on the dance floor with them.
‘We’ve been swallowing tears throughout the night but I’m just so happy. I’m genuinely happy and grateful to be here – to have done all those incredible dances, to have learned so much, to have met all these beautiful people – [I] had the best outfits ever!’
AJ and Kai have been at the heart of romance rumours during the course of the show and she used the time to pay a heartfelt tribute to him – and their ‘unbreakable bond.’
‘I literally would not have been here without Kai. Learning to dance has truly been the biggest joy and every single week we have said “dance like it’s your last.”
Bad luck: Earlier in the evening, AJ and her dance partner Kai Widdrington spoke to Claudia Winkleman about having to miss the final dances
‘And I’m so glad we did that from week one because we didn’t know that our last dance was our last dance. We didn’t know. But I am glad that our last dance(s), plural, I’m glad that they were brilliant and everyone enjoyed them as much as we did.’
A choked up Claudia also praised a stoic Kai, who made his Strictly debut this year.
The choreographer responded: ‘This girl just every week outdoes herself. Every week when I come into the training room I feel like the most luckiest professional to be in the room with a woman like this. She is the most strongest character, even after the setbacks that we’ve had.
Upsetting: She emotionally said: ‘Honestly, Claudia, I don’t know how to describe what it feels like to have a broken heart. But that’s what it feels like’
‘She’s made my first season on Strictly the best experience ever and this will always hold a place special in my heart. We didn’t get the chance to dance tonight, but my God does she look the part!’
EastEnders’ deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice lifted the glitterball as she was crowned winner of Strictly Come Dancing after competing against John Whaite in the most diverse final in the show’s 17-year history.
The nail-biting end to the 2021 series came down to the viewers’ vote after both Rose, 27, and John, 32, who formed the first ever male sex partnership with Johannes Radebe, tied on the leaderboard with the judges praising both for the ‘groundbreaking’ roles they have played in the competition.
WINNER! EastEnders’ deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis lifted the glitterball as she was crowned winner of Strictly Come Dancing after competing against John Whaite in the most diverse final in the show’s 17-year history
As her name was unveiled as the winner of Strictly 2021, Rose said to Giovanni: ‘I just want to say you are so amazing. You pushed me to believe in myself more than I believe in myself. You are an incredible teacher, but not just that you are a wonderful friend.
‘We’ve gone through a lot, and I just want you to know no matter what happens, no matter how busy we get, I want to you to know you’ve always got a piece of my heart. You really do.’
A teary-eyed Giovanni also revelled in their success on the BBC show as he scored his first win since he joined Strictly seven years ago.
Gracious runner-up: The nail-biting end to the 2021 series came after the judges praised both for the ‘groundbreaking’ roles they have played in the competition
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