Nick Knowles will return to Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday evening after an arm injury left his long-term future on the show hanging in the balance.
The DIY SOS presenter, 62, damaged his bicep on Sunday while changing a tyre after his car broke down on the way to his own birthday party.
Nick’s left arm was placed in a sling after the injury and he has been waiting to see if he is able to dance on Saturday.
On Wednesday night the TV star shared an Instagram video revealing that his recovery is going well and a final decision will be made soon on whether he will be able to dance on Saturday’s live show.
Nick Knowles has given Strictly fans an update as his arm injury continues to threaten his future in the BBC dance competition
‘So bit of an update for you. I’ve just got out of soaking in the bath after a day’s training which went very, very well’ NIck told his followers.
‘Shoulder is repairing very well. I saw a great physio today as well, that’s helped enormously.’
He revealed that producers and his team of medics will decide on Thursday whether he will dance at the weekend.
‘So I get another day’s training tomorrow. The decision will be made tomorrow afternoon whether I can actually compete on Saturday,’ Nick explained, adding he was feeling hopeful.
‘I’m doing my level best to get there. Keeping my fingers crossed. So hopefully I’ll see you Saturday.’
Earlier on Wednesday, Nick revealed he was on his way to the training studio to meet partner Luba Mushtuk to see what, if anything, he is able to do – and hopefully get the go ahead to dance.
‘It’s a big day for me really,’ he told fans in a video. ‘I’m really, really hoping that we find out that I can dance on Saturday.’
Sharing the video of him walking to the dance studio, Nick said: ‘Good morning everyone. Well it’s been an interesting few days I can tell you that. A lot to think about, seen a lot of people. I’ve got loads of people trying to make everything work.
The DIY SOS presenter, 62, damaged his bicep on Sunday while changing a tyre after his car broke down on the way to his own birthday party
On Wednesday night the TV star shared an Insta video revealing that his recovery is going well and a final decision will be made soon on whether he will be able to dance on Saturday
‘I’m feeling good, arms in a sling still to make sure that it’s rested when I’m not using it but today I’m going to try and dance to see what my capabilities are.
‘Luba is trying to prepare a dance that will work for me. ‘
He added: I’d really like to stay part of the competition, so keep your fingers crossed for me.’
Strictly bosses have drawn up contingency plans if he is forced to withdraw from this weekend’s show.
Producers are desperate not to lose their most-profile star from the 20th anniversary series.
They have made plans to give him a ‘free pass’ to week three while he recovers, instead of forcing him to withdraw from the competition completely.
A source told : ‘They are all anxiously waiting to get the all clear from the medical team about Nick being able to compete this weekend, but are determined not to lose him from the show.
Nick’s left arm was placed in a sling after the injury and he has been waiting to see if he is able to dance on Saturday
Earlier on Wednesday, Nick revealed he was on his way to the training studio to meet partner Luba Mushtuk to see what, if anything, he is able to do
He said: ‘It’s a big day for me really,’ he told fans in a video. ‘I’m really, really hoping that we find out that I can dance on Saturday’
‘He is such a popular figure with viewers, and if he needs time to recover he will get a free pass to return the following week, all being well.’
‘If that bothers other contestants, then so be it. The bosses want him back.’
Yesterday, Knowles was under the medical supervision of doctors and physiotherapists in a desperate bid to stay in the contest.
He will return to Strictly rehearsals on Wednesday, where doctors will make a final decision on whether he is able to continue.
This weekend, the first celebrity contestant will be voted off the dance show.
After visiting Harley Street for an emergency MRI scan on Monday, Knowles told Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two that he remained ‘really hopeful’ he could continue on the show.
But host Janette Manrara told viewers: ‘At this stage, we don’t know if you’ll be able to dance on Saturday.’
He is due to dance an American Smooth to Blur’s Parklife with his professional partner Luba, providing he gets the all-clear from medics.
After visiting Harley Street for an emergency MRI scan on Monday, Knowles told Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two that he remained ‘really hopeful’ he could continue on the show
Mushtuk joked that they’ll make Knowles’s sling ‘sparkly’ and said that he ‘still has perfect position on the right arm.’
She said the pair can work on doing ‘perfect footwork’ for the foxtrot element of the dance and will still hopefully do a lift, noting that they could ‘work around’ the injury.
Knowles added: ‘Luckily I’m very big, and Luba is very light, so one-arm lifts.’
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday at 6:15pm.