Delta Goodrem Sits Out Strictly Live Show With Rib Injury as Kai Widdrington Partnership Gets a Bye
After two weeks atop the leaderboard, Goodrem must miss Saturday’s Strictly show. She’s resting at home and hopes to return next week.
Two weeks at the top of the leaderboard had given Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington real momentum on Strictly Come Dancing. Now a rib injury has interrupted that run: Goodrem will miss Saturday’s live performance while she rests at home, and the pair have been granted a bye through to the following week.
The pause comes after a strong stretch for the partnership. Goodrem and Widdrington led the judges’ leaderboard in each of the past two weeks, most recently earning 33 points for their salsa. That score and their consecutive high placings made them one of the series’ most compelling pairings to watch. Their immediate challenge is different: protecting Goodrem’s recovery while keeping the partnership’s place in the competition intact.
Goodrem shared her update on Instagram, posting a picture of herself resting on a sofa. She thanked people who had sent messages and kind comments over the previous couple of days, saying she had seen them all. “Not the start to the week I’d hoped for but your support has meant the world,” she wrote.
She also singled out Widdrington, thanking her professional partner for his guidance and friendship. Goodrem said she would miss dancing with him on Saturday, but planned to cheer on the rest of the cast from her couch. Her message made clear how much she values the experience, while accepting that this week’s performance is out of her hands.
The injury was first addressed on Monday, when Goodrem said she was “absolutely gutted” to be missing the next live show. She described sitting out as heartbreaking, particularly after the high of Saturday night, and said she had been loving every second of the series. The new message carries the same disappointment, but also gives fans a clearer picture of what she is doing now: resting and recovering at home.
A BBC spokesperson said doctors had advised Goodrem to rest because of the injury. The statement confirmed that she and Widdrington would receive a bye under the competition’s rules and said it was hoped Goodrem could return to the dancefloor the following week. That is the current expectation, not a confirmed return date; the length of her recovery remains unclear.
For a dance partnership that has built momentum through consecutive high scores, an enforced week away creates an unusual gap. The bye keeps Goodrem and Widdrington in the series, but it means they cannot add another performance to their recent run on Saturday. The next step depends on recovery: the pair will need to resume rehearsals when Goodrem is able, then turn that preparation into a return performance if she is fit enough.
There is no further detail yet on the injury or how many days recovery may take. Goodrem’s plan is to spend Saturday supporting the cast from home; the show is scheduled to air on BBC One on October 17. Her recent results have established the partnership as a leading presence, but their next appearance now hinges on her health. For the moment, the clearest update is that she is resting, grateful for support and hoping to dance again the following week.
Kai Widdrington remains central to that next chapter. Goodrem’s thanks to him point to the trust the pair have built during the series, and his guidance will matter when they return to training. Their two recent leaderboard-topping performances offer a strong platform; whether they can quickly recapture that form will only be clear once Goodrem is ready to dance again.
Goodrem also used social media to acknowledge the messages she has received. Those responses appear to have helped during a week that began with an unexpected setback. She has made her priorities plain: take the rest doctors advised, support the show from home, and focus on a possible return rather than rushing it.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, October 17, on BBC One. For Goodrem and Widdrington, the competition’s immediate question is whether recovery allows the partnership to return the following week and build on its recent scores.
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