Will Young is not the first celebrity to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing early and end their chances of winning the coveted glitterball.
Previous contestants John Sergeant, Kelly Brook and Jimmy Tarbuck all withdrew from the biggest entertainment show on TV.
Kelly suddenly left the BBC1 competition, following the death of her father from cancer, in 2007.
The actress and model, who had been one of the favourites to win with her professional partner Brendan Cole, had hoped to continue with the show and dance in her father’s memory.
But the grieving star found it too difficult.
A year later, former ITV political editor John sensationally quit because his popularity with viewers meant he was in danger of winning, despite showing little talent on the dance floor.
“The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition,” he said at the time, adding: “Even for me that would be a joke too far.”
John’s decision came after then judge Arlene Phillips said that if the journalist walked away with the glitterball, it would leave her feeling “desolate”.
Instead of rehearsing he “sits and reads the Guardian”, she had said, adding: “There is nothing that is correct about his performances, he is just getting through the dances.”
In 2006, veteran comedian Jimmy quit Strictly for health reasons.
The star said he was “absolutely devastated” to leave the show following a doctor’s assessment.
And in 2009, Olympic athlete Jade Johnson withdrew following an injury.
The long-jumper suffered a ligament tear in her knee during rehearsals.
She was left in tears after the problem forced her to miss a live programme, before she decided to withdraw completely.
She was later quoted as saying that Strictly had damaged her chances at the London 2012 Olympics.
“Strictly has cost me my place in the Olympics. I thought the show injury had healed and I was ready to compete,” she said.
“Sadly it flared up just before the trials and made it impossible to get through them.”
