Laura Whitmore was in so much pain after sustaining an ankle injury ahead of Saturday night’s Strictly Come Dancing that she was unable to stand.
The television presenter was not able to compete in last night’s show after doctors told her it would be unsafe to perform following her foot accident earlier in the week.
And doctors think she may even cause "permanent damage" to her ankle if she attempts to dance with her professional partner Giovanni Pernice if she’s not properly recovered.
An insider told the Sunday Mirror before the show aired on Saturday: "She’s been seeing two physicians and two medics over the past 24 hours and at 4.14 show bosses took the decision she could not perform.
"Instead Giovanni will go on to explain what has happened tonight, while Laura has been sent home from Elstree."
Laura apparently felt pain in her ankle much earlier in the week but powered through as she was desperate to perform this weekend.
But yesterday it became too much and she was unable to stand, and has a swollen ligament.
An insider told the newspaper: "It is really inflamed. She’s had to keep it elevated and she’s being given pain killers.
"She is absolutely gutted. She’s been in floods of tears because she was so excited to be performing."
It was revealed Laura would not be taking part in Saturday night’s live show just hours before she was due to go on air.
A BBC spokesperson said: "Laura Whitmore will not perform on tonight’s Strictly Come Dancing due to an ankle injury earlier in the week.
"She has been checked by a doctor and the medical team on site and they have been advised that she rests her ankle and does not dance this weekend.
"As per the rules of Strictly Come Dancing - because Laura and Giovanni cannot dance on tonight’s show - they will receive a bye through to next week and the show will continue with a public vote as per usual.
"We wish Laura a very speedy recovery."
Laura wrote on Twitter: "Absolutely devastated. It was a decision taken out of my hands. If it was my choice, I’d be on the dance floor doing my jive with Gio.
"This was by far my favourite dance. We all train really hard. All of us dancing, have aches and pains and I didn’t realise the severity of my injury until it was too late. I’m sorry to let you all down.
"My priority is to follow the doctor’s instructions to get myself on my feet again without permanent damage and do the thing I love most, dancing!
"Thanks to all my fellow contestants for the support they have given me in the last 24 hours."