Watch as Nick Knowles returns to Strictly training for the first time since nightmare double injury
NICK Knowles has been working up a sweat in the Strictly Come Dancing training room after being given the all-clear to return.
The DIY SOS star, 62, was filmed practicing his Charleston with professional partner Luba Mushtuk on Friday afternoon.
Nick’s future on the show had been hanging in the balance after he suffered two nasty injuries.
His most recent left him on crutches and forced the pair to miss Movie Week last weekend.
But in a new clip, Nick can be seen spinning around with his arms outstretched before squatting down as Luba rolls over his back.
Looking visibly sweaty, he is wearing a comfy T-shirt and jogging bottoms while practicing their routine in the Strictly Come Dancing studio.
Show bosses have given Nick and Luba the green light to perform their Movie Week dance from last Saturday, given their lack of training this week.
They will be doing the Charleston to Rain On The Roof from the film Paddington 2.
The clip of Nick and Luba’s training was aired on Friday night’s episode of spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two.
Fans watching at home were impressed considering he was on crutches earlier this week.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, one said: “Nick actually looks quite good – taking into account his injury.”
Another added: “@MrNickKnowles seemed to do fine in rehearsal with their Charleston! Hope the knee keeps up…”
Nick was forced to pull out of last week’s live show after an accident during the dress rehearsal left him on crutches.
The star fell out of a jump and sustained an injury to his knee.
Prior to this, Nick had also hurt his shoulder while changing a car tyre away from show rehearsals.
Although he was able to struggle through that week’s dance, he did take part in several training sessions while wearing a sling.
Nick has now taken to social media and cheerfully confirmed his big return in a new short video.
Walking through the corridors of BBC’s TV studios, he said: “I watched last week’s show feeling so sad that I wasn’t there.
“I of course loved cheering on everyone else, but I really missed it being part of it.
“When I signed up to Strictly I never thought for a moment that I’d love it like I did. I well and truly have the dancing bug!
“I am absolutely delighted to be back tomorrow, and I’m so grateful to the physios and medical teams at BBC for getting me back on my feet!”
Strictly 2024 pairings
Here's who is matched with who this series...
Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell
Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas
JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
Punam Krishan and Gorka Márquez
Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec
Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
Toyah Willcox and Neil Jones
Sam Quek MBE and Nikita Kuzmin
Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
Shayne Ward and Nancy Xu
Wynne Evans and Katya Jones
A BBC spokesperson, meanwhile, told The Sun: “We are all delighted that Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk will be dancing in this Saturday’s show.
“Nick has been cleared to dance by the medical and physio teams following his injury last week.
“Due to time taken out of training this week, they will be performing their Movies Week Charleston to Rain On The Roof from Paddington 2.”
Nick and Luba will take to the dance floor alongside their fellow competitors on BBC One at 6.20pm tomorrow (Saturday October 12).