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Medical staff to ‘make a call’ on Nick Knowles Strictly performance after injury

Knowles damaged his shoulder and arm while changing a flat tyre on the way to a family party at the weekend.

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Nick Knowles in a blue suit

DIY SOS star Nick Knowles has said medical staff will “make a call on if they think I can continue dancing” on this week’s episode of Strictly Come Dancing.

Knowles said his arm and shoulder are “feeling a bit better today” and he would be rehearsing with professional partner Luba Mushtuk on Wednesday.

Knowles, 62, thanked fans on social media for their “support and well wishes” after he damaged his shoulder and arm while changing a flat tyre on the way to a family party at the weekend.

Knowles said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday: “Today I have seen doctors and physios who have been wonderful.

“I’ve had scans, I’ll spare you the grim details, and although it’s feeling a bit better today, the issue is, we don’t know if I can actually use my arm to dance.

“So tomorrow, I’m going to rehearsals with Luba and the physio to see just what my arm can do. Then the medics will make a call on if they think I can continue dancing.

“I am still really hopeful that I’ll be able to dance this weekend. So fingers crossed.”

He said he was treated in Harley Street, central London, on Monday, where he had a scan, and is expecting to find out soon whether he can dance on the second live episode of the 20th anniversary series of the BBC dancing show.

He asked people on social media to “be kind”, after he was criticised for using private healthcare.

He said he was “very lucky”, and had been through hardship over the past four decades while working on TV, before finding success recently.

He followed by saying: “Let’s all be kind.

“People find themselves in very difficult circumstances atm (at the moment) and it’s not their fault they’re angry.

“When it’s difficult to know who to be angry at then social media can be an outlet I understand and am not offended.”

An X user had pointed out that GP appointments can be tricky to get on the NHS, and not everyone can afford to go private.

Knowles tweeted: “I’ve lived in my car occasionally and on other peoples sofas at times over last 40 years to keep at TV when it wasn’t paying but recently I’ve done well and been able to pay people back & look after my family including private healthcare. I’m very lucky.”

During the second live show Knowles is expected to perform an American smooth, which can incorporate lifts, to Blur’s Parklife.

On Monday he told the BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two that his injury is “painful”, but he is “hopeful” of dancing again this week with Mushtuk after their jive to We Built This City by Starship during the first live show.

The next episode of Strictly Come Dancing will be broadcast at 6.15pm on BBC One on Saturday.

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