Ali Bastian

Ali Bastian SCD Update

The Bill actress Ali Bastian has become the latest contestant to be hit with the Strictly Come Dancing injury jinx.

One of the favourites to win the series, Miss Bastian injured her foot on Monday in rehearsal and is now fighting to get fit for Saturday's show.

Appearing on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two yesterday, her professional partner Brian Fortuna said Miss Bastian is in so much pain she is unable to walk.

Speaking to Claudia Winkleman, he said: 'She came down on her right foot. She couldn't walk at all.

'We took her to a specialist on Tuesday and immediately he referred her for an MRI. The good news is that she doesn't have a fracture. She has severe bruising on the bones on both sides of the foot.

'She hasn't been able to walk for the last three days... we're gonna have to see if she'll be able to train or not. Right now, it's not very good.'

Insiders say she is expected to be given the all clear to perform at the weekend by a doctor tomorrow but there are concerns the lay off will damage her chances on the show.

Ali and Fortuna are due to dance the Charleston on Saturday's show.

But the pair have missed a large chunk of training time, clocking up just four hours before the accident forced them to skip rehearsals on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A source on the show said: 'Ali has badly bruised her foot during training and has been ordered to rest. She is going back to the doctors tomorrow and they have advised that she should be fine to dance on Saturday.'

Bastian and Fortuna have been given 2/1 odds by bookmakers Paddy Power to win the show, behind outright favourites Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe.

The injury comes after Olympic athlete Jade Johnson said she was 'absolutely gutted' after the injury-hit star was forced to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing.

Johnson sustained a ligament injury in the dress rehearsal before last week's show when she heard her knee 'pop' as she tried to get up.

She pulled out of the BBC1 show amid fears that continuing in the competition could jeopardise her long term career.

She said: 'I'm a competitor and I don't give up easily so I'm absolutely gutted that it means that I can't continue dancing in the show.

'I've had a great time and really enjoyed learning to dance, and I am going to miss training with Ian (Waite) who has been a fantastic partner. I'd like to thank all of the people at home who have been supporting me right the way through.'

Bastian herself has already had to dance through the pain barrier after she appeared on the show with an injury to her other foot.

In previous weeks, contestants including Laila Rouass and Phil Tufnell have been hampered by injuries.