Nick Knowles ‘excited’ to return to Strictly dancefloor following injury

Nick Knowles has said he is “excited” to return to the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor after getting through a “tough week” with an arm and shoulder injury.

The presenter of DIY SOS confirmed on Thursday that he would be able to perform on Saturday’s live show after getting medical clearance.

His hopes of performing in the BBC One competition had been thrown into doubt earlier in the week after he damaged his bicep when trying to change a car tyre.

In a video message shared to social media on Saturday morning while on the way to the Strictly studio, Knowles said: “It’s been a tough week but I’m very, very excited to dance later this evening.

“And don’t worry about me, shoulder is getting stronger every single day. Thank you for all your wishes of support and all the love that’s been sent.

“I really, really do appreciate it and will try and do my best for you.”

Knowles said he has spent the last two days trying to learn his American Smooth routine to Parklife, by Blur, as well as he “possibly can”.

“I promise to give it everything tonight and try and perform it well”, he added.

“Luba has worked her magic in choreographing something amazing. All I have to do now is perform it.”

Earlier in the week, Knowles said he had sought treatment from doctors and physios for the injury and wore a sling when he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on Monday.

He joked on the show that he was prepared to perform one-armed dance lifts with his professional partner Luba Mushtuk.

Also this weekend, the judges and professional dancers will perform an “avant-garde gothic tango” during the first results show of the 20th anniversary series.

They will dance to Prince’s When Doves Cry and New Order’s Blue Monday, before the first celebrity to be eliminated is revealed.

During Sunday night’s performance, Strictly’s longest-serving judge, Craig Revel Horwood, will wear a blond wig and sit on a golden throne.

Fellow judge Anton Du Beke will wear a purple jacket with a gold waistcoat and white shirt, while Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse will dance in all-black outfits.

The professional dancers will wear white and black outfits as they surround the throne, for which the judges will battle.

Last week professional dancer Amy Dowden topped the judges’ leaderboard on her return to the series after overcoming breast cancer, alongside her celebrity partner JLS singer JB Gill.

The BBC has introduced new welfare measures for contestants, including a chaperone present “at all times” during rehearsals amid an investigation by the corporation after allegations were made about former professional dancer Giovanni Pernice by his 2023 celebrity partner Amanda Abbington.

Pernice rejects the allegations, while his fellow dancer Graziano Di Prima has also left the show after the furore.

Strictly Come Dancing will air on Saturday at 6.15pm while the first results show will broadcast on Sunday, September 29 at 7.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.