Emily Bashforth
Published November 29, 2025 8:58pm
Updated November 29, 2025 9:02pm
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Strictly viewers are concerned after noticing Alex Kingston in pain (Picture: BBC)
Key Points
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- Fans are expressing concern for Alex Kingston’s well-being following her visible discomfort and a dislocated rib on Strictly
- Alex assured fans she’s fine, but struggled during her performances, which sparked debates about her continuing in the show
- Support and criticism flooded social media, with many urging a medical check while others praised her determination to perform
Strictly Come Dancing star Alex Kingston is powering on despite her rib injury – but not without pain.
The Doctor Who star, 62, sparked concern among viewers last week when it was revealed she had a ‘dislocated rib’.
Writing underneath a social media post showing Alex and her pro Johannes Rabede’s couple’s choice, her daughter, Salome Violetta Haertel, 24, said: ‘So so proud!!! Slayed on the dance floor, dislocated rib and all!!!’
Fans quickly picked up on the comment, fearing Alex could be on the verge of withdrawing from the competition completely, like Kristian Nairn, Dani Dyer, Stefan Dennis, and La Voix all have this series due to injuries.
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While Alex was keen to put the anxiety to rest by insisting she was ‘completely fine’, she has now confessed that her body is ‘struggling’.
What’s more, fans spent tonight’s episode begging for her to be seen by a medic as she repeatedly winced in discomfort while on-screen.
The actress was clearly uncomfortable on the dancefloor tonight (Picture: Kieron McCarron/BBC/PA Wire)
Her partner, Johannes Radebe, had to help her up the stairs (Picture: BBC)
Speaking to host Claudia Winkleman after her cha cha cha, the contestant was visibly deflated, having made several mistakes in her routine and scored a low four from Craig Revel Horwood.
‘I feel like this is a time to talk just to the public, actually, about where we’re all at as competitive dancers in this,’ Alex began.
‘It’s never really kind of discussed, when you’re at the sharp end, how much our bodies are really suffering,’ she said as her fellow contestants and pros nodded in agreement.
‘My 62-year-old self is saying, “What are you putting me through?” but my spirit and my soul is going, “La, la, la, la, la, I don’t want to know, I want to keep on dancing!”
‘But there is a point where you go, “This is what the life of a dancer is like”.’
Alex then said the professionals will be able to relate to the ‘physical problems and fatigue’ she is experiencing.
She admitted that she is ‘suffering’ (Picture: BBC)
‘But it’s still a competition!’, she declared.
Alex scored just 23 points for her routine, with the scores combined with last week’s due to the elimination being cancelled in Blackpool.
But the torture didn’t end there for Alex, sadly, as she had to take to the floor twice tonight, with audiences later realising just how serious things might be.
This week, the six couples took part in an Instant Dance Challenge, where they selected a dance style they had previously performed at random and were assigned a piece of music.
They then had a mere 15 chaotic seconds to pick out a costume before being separated from their other half. Just 10 seconds of conferring were allowed before the music kicked in, and they had to dance.
The judges proceeded to rank the pairs, with their scores added to their existing points.
Fans are worried the Doctor Who star might have to withdraw (Picture: BBC)
For some partners, the challenge was a success, as Lewis Cope and Katya Jones came in first place, while Balvinder Sopal was praised for surprising everyone with a fierce paso doble.
But for Alex and Johannes, who had to dance the rumba and go first, viewers couldn’t help but notice that, by the end of the episode, she was in a bad way.
The TV star even struggled to get down the steps and appeared stiff while performing. At one point, she turned to George Clarke and said what many believe was, ‘That’s the thing, I can’t move.’
Taking to X after watching it all unfold, @Face4209Ghost wrote: ‘will somebody please get Alex to a medic?’
‘Why is Alex limping? If she’s hurt herself surely it’s not a good idea to continue dancing?’, tweeted @SHED8888.
@tele_watcher echoed: ‘Alex is really struggling. I’ll be surprised if she can carry on the series if she’s that bad’.
She seemingly told George Clarke she ‘couldn’t move’ before the Instant Dance Challenge (Picture: BBC)
Alex was clearly fighting through the rumba (Picture: BBC)
Johannes gave her a big hug at the end (Picture: BBC)
‘I feel so sorry for Alex, she’s clearly in a lot of pain. Can’t see her staying on even if she gets through to next week’, @andrewj5678 wrote, adding in the replies: ‘I definitely think she will quit if she doesn’t get voted out tonight.’
Others came out in support of Alex, with @JulietMckee saying she should ‘hold [her] head high’ for how far she’s come in the contest.
In her statement earlier in the week, which came after viewers spotted medical tape on her side last Saturday, Alex assured her followers that she had a ‘minor injury’.
Comment now Do you think this is Strictly’s most cursed series yet?Comment Now‘I just want to assure everyone that I am completely fine,’ she began on her Instagram Story, saying injuries were ‘part and parcel of dancing at these levels’.
Addressing her daughter’s remark, she continued: ‘The comment was made by my concerned and loving daughter…nothing more.
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‘I will be on the dance floor as early as tomorrow morning… rehearsing.’
Alex finished by saying she is ‘super excited’ to get stuck into her cha cha cha.
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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