AJ Odudu was in great spirits when she left Strictly Studios on Saturday, despite missing the final due to a foot injury.
As she left Elstree Studios in Elstree, the 33-year-old presenter was seen with a fractured, bedazzled boot on her foot as she took a taxi.
After sustaining ligament damage to her right foot, earlier this week she had to withdraw from competition.
Happy: AJ Odudu (33), looked happy as she left Strictly Studios on Saturday evening, despite missing the final due to a foot injury.
As she was being ferried back to her home, AJ smiled from the inside of the car and made a peace gesture.
A stunning, sequin minidress she wore was paired with a bright green fluffy coat.
Claudia Winkleman spoke earlier in the evening to AJ and Kai Widdrington, her partner in dance. They discussed the decision to skip the last dance.
She emotionally said: ‘Honestly, Claudia, I don’t know how to describe what it feels like to have a broken heart. But that’s what it feels like.
‘But, we have had the best time on this show and you know, I have been putting on a brave face, Kai has been putting on a brave face.’
Sad: She suffered ligament damage to her foot earlier this week and even though she took things easy this week, she was forced to pull out from the competition on Friday
She added: ‘We’ve loved the show tonight. Rose and John and Johannes and Giovanni are incredible – but we wanted to be on the dance floor with them.
‘We’ve been swallowing tears throughout the night but I’m just so happy. I’m genuinely happy and grateful to be here – to have done all those incredible dances, to have learned so much, to have met all these beautiful people – [I] had the best outfits ever!’
AJ and Kai have been at the heart of romance rumours during the course of the show and she used the time to pay a heartfelt tribute to him – and their ‘unbreakable bond.’
‘I literally would not have been here without Kai. Learning to dance has truly been the biggest joy and every single week we have said “dance like it’s your last.”
Bad luck: Earlier in the evening, AJ and her dance partner Kai Widdrington spoke to Claudia Winkleman about having to miss the final dances
‘And I’m so glad we did that from week one because we didn’t know that our last dance was our last dance. We didn’t know. But I am glad that our last dance(s), plural, I’m glad that they were brilliant and everyone enjoyed them as much as we did.’
A choked up Claudia also praised a stoic Kai, who made his Strictly debut this year.
The choreographer responded: ‘This girl just every week outdoes herself. Every week when I come into the training room I feel like the most luckiest professional to be in the room with a woman like this. She is the most strongest character, even after the setbacks that we’ve had.
Upsetting: Claudia emotionally stated that she didn’t know how best to express the pain of a broken heart. It’s that way.
“She has made my first Strictly season the best and I will cherish this memory forever.” She looks the part, even though we couldn’t dance together tonight.
Rose Ayling Ellis, EastEnders’ Deaf Actress and Dance Partner Giovanni Pernice won the gold as Rose Ayling Ellis was named the winner of Strictly Come Dancing. She defeated John Whaite in an eclectic final.
It was a nail biting finale to 2021’s series. John Radebe and Rose Radebe (both 32 years old) tied the leaderboard, with judges applauding them both for their ‘groundbreaking roles’ in the competition.
WINNER! Rose Ayling Ellis, EastEnders’ deaf actress, won the gold as she took home the crown of Strictly Come Dancing’s winner after taking on John Whaite in the diverse final.
Rose, who was named the winner of Strictly 20,21, said to Giovanni: ‘I just wanna say that you are so incredible. Your belief in me helped me believe more in myself than I do in myself. Your teaching skills are extraordinary, and you’re also an excellent friend.
“We have been through so much, but I wanted you to know that no matter the outcome, no matter how hectic we become, you still have a part of my heart. I know you do.
Giovanni was also teary-eyed as they won their first victory on BBC’s Strictly 7 years ago.
Gracious runnerup: It was a nail-biting finish to the series 2021 after judges gave their highest praises for both of them because they played ‘groundbreaking role’ during the competition.