Injury a pain in the neck for Strictly Come Dancing star Denise van Outen

By ANTHONY BARNES
Published on 12/10/2012 00:00

Denise Van Outen says it is “touch and go” whether she will be fit to perform on Strictly Come Dancing after suffering whiplash in rehearsals.

The actress and presenter headed off to physio yesterday afternoon as she struggled with an injury while training. She was found to be suffering mild whiplash after she and partner James Jordan practised a vigorous jive.

Van Outen said she was in “serious pain”, adding: “I think it is touch and go whether I will be able to perform on Saturday.”

She is the latest star of the show to run into difficulties. Last week her dance partner James Jordan broke his nose in training after an accident while he danced with wife Ola.

And Aliona Vilani is nursing a damaged ankle which is expected to keep her out of the show for up to another fortnight.

Van Outen said she was suffering with “mild whiplash”, an injury more associated with car accidents.

Jordan was feeling remorseful after pushing her hard. He said: “I’m feeling really terrible because I was really mean to her at the beginning of rehearsals.”

She woke up in pain this morning and her neck stiffened as she attempted to train, to the point where she was barely able to turn her head.