With only four couples remaining in the competition, Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has revealed that the mood backstage has changed.
Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell, Nikita Kuzmin and Layton Williams, and Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe remain, with the finals planned for Saturday, December 16.
This comes after Nigel Harman was forced to withdraw from the programme after being sent to A&E with an injury.
Craig has already spoken out about his abrupt resignation, but he has also addressed the climate on the programme.
With only two weeks to go, the judge, 50, discussed how hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are assisting the singers backstage.
Craig said to Best Magazine (via MailOnline): ‘Claudia’s like The Mothership right now, making the celebs laugh and giving out hugs.
‘Tess, too – but she’s more calming. They work well to prepare the nervous couples before they go on.
‘It’s also gone quiet, backstage – there aren’t many pairs left, everyone’s focused on the prize.’
His comments come after Nigel, 50, spoke at length about his rib injury, having explained it occurred when he ‘was leaping off a rostrum and was about to be caught by some very handsome men and – as I flew – I was Peter Pan and – as I landed – I was in A&E.’
Sat beside dance partner Katya Jones, the Casualty star said on Monday’s It Takes Two: ‘I’m still in quite a bit of pain.’
He went on: ‘I was sort of moping around the house going, I wonder what Katya’s doing today?
‘So it feels quite strange, because it’s only been three days. Three days ago we were about to do this dance that we knew was going to be great.’
He added: ‘It feels quite strange and surreal. I’m missing people already, but I don’t feel like I’ve left yet.’
Speaking about her time with Nigel, Katya, 34, said: ‘Every week reminded me, it’s not a technical competition.
‘We are here to light up every Saturday night for everyone to watch. To deliver entertainment, to enjoy ourselves and to tell stories and to love what we do.’
Katya continued: ‘Pretty much everything is out of our hands. The way I approach it every year is, I’m just here with [an] open heart, full of belief… with love and care and support to guide this person.’
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 7.35pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
