BBC Strictly's Nick Knowles sheds two stone in four weeks as he makes devastating announcement

Nick Knowles managed to lose over two stone after joining Strictly and had admitted to getting lighter on his feet before making a devastating announcement

Nick Knowles opened up about his gruelling Strictly Come Dancing training, admitting it's "tougher than rugby".

The 62-year-old TV star, who is having to sit out of this week's proceedings due to injury, is hoping to still be vying for the coveted glitterball trophy in this year's BBC contest. Opening up on rehearsals with partner Luba Mushtuk prior to his injury, he said it has been a surprisingly tough challenge, even compared to his experiences on the rugby pitch.

Nick didn't mince words about the gruelling nature of his 'Strictly' prep, recently saying simply: "This is much tougher than rugby training."

Having dropped over two stone since he started his Strictly stint last month, Nick is feeling the change, telling The Times: "I can feel myself transforming from a very heavy bloke lumbering around the room to somebody who is becoming lighter and more elegant on his feet."

Despite a recent arm injury caused by an unfortunate tyre changing incident, Nick managed to dodge the dreaded early exit from the show, sharing his surprise at how relieved he felt: "It was a big relief, much more than I expected. He also confessed to two unexpected realisations since joining 'Strictly': how invested he is in perfecting his dance routines, and his determination not to disappoint his family, friends, and dance partner.

Nick also shared some motivational words for viewers, saying: "For anybody at home watching there's a genuine feeling of, 'Why not? It's never too late.", reports Birmingham Live.

He added: "I literally have never danced, I'm knackered from years of rugby injuries, and I'm not shaped like a dancer. If I can do it, everybody can."

The remaining 14 pairs are set to dazzle on the dance floor for a Movie Week special as ' Strictly Come Dancing ' returns on Saturday, 5 October at 6:25pm. The results show will then air on Sunday, 6 October at 7:15pm on BBC One.

However, on Friday evening, Nick revealed he won't be competing, but instead has a bye to hopefully help his injuries heal. After picking up a second injury in as many weeks, Nick, 62, reportedly found himself on crutches following a dress rehearsal disaster when he did a jump and took a bad landing.

Confirming the news of his exit for this week, a spokesperson for Strictly told the Mirror: "Unfortunately, Nick Knowles sustained an injury during rehearsals and as a result, will not dance this weekend." Clarifying the rules regarding Nicks situation, they concluded: "As per the rules of the competition, Nick and Luba will receive a bye through to next week when he is hopefully able to dance again. Everyone at Strictly Come Dancing wishes Nick a speedy recovery."

Nick also addressed the news and took to Twitter/X to express his disappointment. "I’m absolutely gutted and feeling very very sad," he wrote, followed by a sad face emoji.

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