Kym Marsh has pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing this weekend after testing positive for Covid.
The Coronation Street actress and presenter, who is partnered with Graziano Di Prima on the show, will miss this weekend's instalment of the BBC One Latin and ballroom competition. She has received much praise from the judges and viewers for her incredible routines over the weeks.
Kym and Graziano danced the Paso Doble to 'Only Girl (In The World)' by Rihanna / 'We Found Love' by Calvin Harris ft Rihanna last week as the show returned to Blackpool for the first time in three years.
A Strictly spokesperson said: "Kym Marsh has tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, Kym and Graziano will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend. Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that all being well, they will return the following week.”
Providing she has recovered, Kym will have a bye to the next week and will return the following weekend.
Kym and Graziano impressed during last week's Blackpool show to land a score of 33. Head judge Shirley Ballas shared of their routine: "I feel like you are in warrior mode. You are here and you are fighting. What I loved, it was so powerful but yet you still kept the femininity," whilst Motsi Mabuse praised Kym's control and energy.
Radio DJ Tyler West and his professional dance partner Dianne Buswell found themselves out the competition after taking part in the dreaded dance-off against actress and singer Molly Rainford and her partner Carlos Gu.
It comes after sources revealed Kym had to stop her rehearsals a few weeks back as she suffered a panic attack and 'broke down' before the live show. During the programme, she admitted to host Claudia Winkleman that it had been a tough week for her.
After her Quickstep routine, Kym admitted to Claudia: "I felt pretty confident going in...I've had a bit of a dodgy day when it comes to confidence, but the team and everyone here has just picked me up. I can't thank you all enough for that."
And later that week, appearing on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, Kym spoke further about the dance and day beforehand.
She told presenter Janette Manrara: "We had so much fun, after having a day of a bit of a meltdown, I just got on there and thought, do you know what, let's just have fun? And we did, we just went out and just enjoyed ourselves."
Kym and Graziano have become great friends since being partnered on the show together and they describe each other like family.
She told HELLO!: "Graziano is from a big family himself and is very family-orientated so it was important for us to build a friendship and I wanted to integrate him into the family. "He's fit in really well. Everyone loves him," she said.
Kym has been juggling three jobs whilst on Strictly, as she has been continuing to present BBC show Morning Live from time to time and has also been filming for the revival of drama series Waterloo Road.
"I don't know how she puts together things," Graziano said of how they fit in their training to her packed schedule, "She works in the morning, maybe until one, and we rehearse (to) eight, nine in the evening."
