Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left curious on Monday evening when the recently eliminated Vicky Pattison failed to make her expected appearance on the sister show, It Takes Two.
The Unexpected Absence
Host Fleur East informed the audience that the former Geordie Shore star and her professional partner, Kai Widdrington, would instead be appearing later in the week. No immediate explanation was given for the schedule change, which sparked speculation amongst the show's dedicated fanbase.
The mystery has now been solved. A source has revealed that Vicky had a pre-agreed arrangement with the BBC to have time off around her birthday. "Vicky had it pre-agreed that she was going to celebrate her birthday with some friends and family," the source explained.
A Bittersweet Birthday Celebration
This celebration came after an emotionally charged weekend for the television personality. Vicky was voted off Strictly Come Dancing on her 38th birthday, following a dance-off against fellow contestant and close friend, Balvinder Sopal.
Reflecting on the difficult moment, Vicky shared, "I knew we were gonna be in the dance off, and when I saw who was lined up, I was like 'This is awful.'" She added, "We became quite close, and our journey together has been really solid. I thought 'I don't wanna be the one.' It was horrible, it's horrible with anybody, but someone you've got close to, it's not the way you want it to play out."
The source close to Vicky emphasised that the birthday celebration was a much-needed break, stating, "She has hardly seen them the last few months cos of training so it was a wonderful celebration but nothing too crazy."
Looking Back on the Strictly Journey
Despite the sadness of her exit, Vicky expressed immense gratitude for her time on the show. Speaking to host Tess Daly after the elimination, she said, "It was so lovely while it lasted, and I've had the nicest time."
She continued, "Listen, I didn't think I'd get past week one. And I'm really honoured to have shared this experience with so many amazing people. Mostly with this fella right here."
She paid a heartfelt tribute to her dance partner, Kai Widdrington, telling him, "You've been the best partner a girl can ask for. I'm so sorry I didn't get you to Blackpool but I feel like I've won just by having you as my partner and I'm so grateful."
With the birthday celebration now over, fans can look forward to seeing Vicky and Kai on It Takes Two as scheduled on Wednesday.
