BBC star quit Strictly Come Dancing after devastating loss

“STRICTLY IN FREEFALL…” BBC Star’s Shock Exit Reopens Old Wounds as Brendan Cole Breaks Silence on the Agonising Truth Behind Celebrity Withdrawals

Strictly Come Dancing has been thrown into turmoil once again after fan-favourite La Voix was forced to withdraw from the competition—an exit so abrupt and heartbreaking that it sent shockwaves through the BBC studio and the show’s loyal audience.

The drag performer, competing with Aljaž Škorjanec, had already missed the prestigious Blackpool week due to a brutal ankle injury. Viewers hoped for a miraculous return, but during Saturday’s broadcast, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman delivered the news everyone had been fearing: La Voix would not be coming back.

And behind the scenes, the emotional fallout has been immense.

Kelly Brook was partnered with Brendan Cole on Strictly in 2007 (Image: BBC)

Brendan Cole reveals the “cold-turkey pain” Strictly contestants never talk about

Veteran pro dancer Brendan Cole—who lived through one of the show’s darkest moments—spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk, breaking open the emotional cost of a forced withdrawal.

Cole revisited the moment his own partner, Kelly Brook, had to pull out of the 2007 series after the tragic death of her father. The memory still hits hard.

“It’s awful,” Brendan said bluntly. “Kelly’s father passed away mid-series, and suddenly everything stopped. You devote weeks, months, everything to this show… and to have it ripped away through no fault of your own feels like cold turkey.”

But he didn’t stop there.

Even elimination, he said, feels like a punch to the gut.

“You suddenly feel like you’re not part of the gang anymore. Walking back into the pro rehearsal room… you feel like the loser who couldn’t stay in. It can be a very lonely feeling.”

His words have now gone viral among Strictly fans, many saying it’s the rawest, most honest description ever given about the emotional pressure stars face off-camera.

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La Voix breaks her silence — “Absolutely devastated”

La Voix—real name Chris Dennis—posted a heartfelt statement on Instagram confirming her exit, confessing she was “absolutely devastated” after medical staff ruled her unfit to continue.

It’s a final blow after the performer fought through rehearsals, hoping to dance again this weekend. Instead, the journey ends not on the ballroom floor, but in heartbreak.

Fans have flooded social media with messages of support, frustration, and disbelief. Many have demanded updates on Strictly’s rehearsal safety, especially after this year’s unprecedented string of injuries, including Dani Dyer and Steffan Dennis.

A season overshadowed by injuries—and Strictly’s future questioned

As Strictly grapples with yet another emotional departure, long-time viewers are beginning to wonder whether the show’s relentless pace is taking a brutal toll on its stars.

With two major injuries in two weeks and rising pressure behind the scenes, this year’s series is starting to look less like a glittering ballroom celebration… and more like a high-stakes endurance test.

And with Brendan Cole now lifting the curtain on the hidden emotional strain, the conversation around Strictly’s intensity—and what celebrities really endure—has only just begun.