THE CURSE OF STRICTLY HAS STRUCK AGAIN

Ugo out with ‘back problems’

STRICTLY Come Dancing has been plunged into further chaos after Ugo Monye announced he will not be competing this weekend.

The former England rugby star, 38, said he had ‘back problems’.

The news comes just a day after comedian Robert Webb, 49, revealed he was withdrawing from the BBC1 contest, having ‘bitten off way more than I could chew’ two years after open-heart surgery.

Monye – who is paired with

‘Gutted Oti and I won’t be dancing’

professional Oti Mabuse – wrote on Twitter: ‘Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to dance this weekend… I have a history of back problems which has always been managed under the guidance of medical professionals.

‘Gutted Oti and I won’t be dancing this weekend but wishing all the other contestants the best of luck.’

On Wednesday, Webb said he thought he had recovered enough to ‘take on Strictly and its demanding schedule’ but four weeks into the show realised it was too much. The Peep Show star – paired with Dianne Buswell – said that after feeling symptoms he had an ‘urgent consultation’ with his heart specialist, who advised him to quit.

The jinxed 19th series of Strictly has also seen McFly star Tom Fletcher, 36, and dance partner Amy Dowden, 31, both test positive for Covid after the first live show – but they returned to the dance floor last weekend.