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Strictly Come Dancing Confirms Kelvin Fletcher As Jamie Laing's Replacement

The former Emmerdale actor will be paired with pro dancer Oti Mabuse.
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By 

Entertainment Editor, HuffPost UK

Former Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher has been confirmed as Jamie Laing’s replacement on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. 

The Andy Sugden actor will couple up with Oti Mabuse on the BBC ballroom series, after the Made In Chelsea star was forced to withdraw from the competition due to injury. 

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Kelvin Fletcher is joining Strictly Come Dancing
Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images

In a statement, Kelvin said: “Is this really happening?! It’s been the most surreal week of my life! I’m a massive fan of Strictly so it’s incredible.

“I’m so happy that I can be a part of it. But at the same time it’s quite bittersweet! I’m coming in on the back of Jamie’s injury – I keep thinking about him! I can’t imagine going through all this excitement and then having to pull out.

“My thoughts are with him – he seems like a fantastic guy and I hope he’s doing OK,” he added. 

Jamie confirmed he was leaving the show on Thursday after injuring his foot, during filming of the pre-recorded launch show the previous week.

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Jamie Laing was forced to withdraw from Strictly
Mike Marsland via Getty Images

He said at the time: “I’m absolutely devastated that I’m unable to continue in the competition, I was so excited to hit the dance floor! I would like to wish the lovely couples all the very best and hope they enjoy their time on the show to the fullest.”

Viewers of Saturday night’s launch show saw him paired up with Oti Mabuse before he took to the floor as part of the group dance, which is where he sustained his injury. 

His exit was then addressed with a hastily-filmed VT, which was inserted into the pre-recorded show and saw Jamie explaining what had happened. 

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Jamie injured his foot during the first group dance of the series
BBC

The launch episode also saw the 14 other celebrities discover which professional dancer they’d been partnered with, while there was also a special performance from Kylie Minogue and the pro dancers. 

New judge Motsi Mabuse also made her debut on the panel after she was confirmed to replace Darcey Bussell earlier this year. 

Kelvin will join the other celebrities when the first live show airs on Saturday 21 September on BBC One. 

Strictly Come Dancing 2019 Launch
(01 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) (credit:Lia Toby via Getty Images)
(02 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) (credit:Lia Toby via Getty Images)
(03 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: (L-R back row) Giovanni Pernice, Neil Jones, Gorka Marquez, Aljaz Skorjanec, Johannes Radebe and Anton Du Beke (L-R front row) AJ Pritchard, Kevin Clifton and Graziano Di Prima attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet arrivals at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
(04 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: (L-R) Luba Mushtuk, Karen Clifton, Oti Mabuse, Katya Jones, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Nancy Xu and Janette Manrara attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet arrivals at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
(05 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: AJ Pritchard and Nancy Xu attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
(06 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Dianne Buswell and Anton du Beke attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet arrivals at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
(07 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Nadiya Bychkova and Giovanni Pernice attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
(08 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Graziano Di Prima and Oti Mabuse attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) (credit:Lia Toby via Getty Images)
(09 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Amy Dowden and Kevin Clifton on stage at the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) (credit:Lia Toby via Getty Images)
(10 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Karen Clifton and Gorka Marquez on stage at the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) (credit:Lia Toby via Getty Images)
(11 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Shirley Ballas attends the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet arrivals at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
(12 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Judges Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet arrivals at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
(13 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Jamie Laing and David James attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Getty Editorial)
(14 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Emma Barton and Dev Griffin attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet arrivals at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
(15 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Viscountess Emma Weymouth and Chris Ramsey attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
(16 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Anneka Rice and Karim Zeroual on stage at the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) (credit:Lia Toby via Getty Images)
(17 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Alex Scott and Will Bayley attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage) (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
(18 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Catherine Tyldesley and James Cracknell on stage at the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) (credit:Lia Toby via Getty Images)
(19 of21)
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Kylie Minogue performing at the red carpet launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2019, held at BBC TV Centre in London, UK. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Editorial)
(20 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Aljaz Skorjanec and Janette Manrara attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet arrivals at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
(21 of21)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Katya Jones and Neil Jones attend the "Strictly Come Dancing" launch show red carpet arrivals at Television Centre on August 26, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) (credit:Karwai Tang via Getty Images)
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