Strictly Come Dancing 2021 star Robert Webb has confirmed that he won't be taking part in this weekend's finale.
The Peep Show star was part of this year's cohort of contestants, but had to withdraw in week three on doctors' advice, having had open-heart surgery a couple of years ago.
Webb has now revealed that he will not be attending the finale, which usually features a group dance from all the contestants, explaining that it was best for his health while also shutting down rumours of "bad feeling towards the show".
Posting a picture of himself and professional partner Dianne Buswell on a lunchbox on his Instagram, the star wrote: "Hullo! I seem to have switched from public to private mode and one of the effects of this is people will inevitably find their own ways to interpret my 'silence'. It isn't really silence, of course. It's just doing other stuff.
"But I thought I ought to pipe up because I won't be in the group dance of the Strictly final this Sat and I didn't want my absence (or my 'silence' about it) to be taken as evidence of any kind of bad feeling towards the show," he added.
"My love for Strictly is a season that is forever summer. However, the producers understood that when I had to stop, I had to stop completely. Dianne & Joe [Sugg] came over for lunch a few weeks ago and m'partner gets it.
"If I gave out a few more details about what the show had been doing to me physically & mentally, you wouldn't be surprised that the offer of one more dance was politely declined."
Webb also apologised that his "departure buggered up the format so there are only 3 couples in the final", though went on to quip: "A lot of angry Rhys fans out there – guys, you do know that if I'd tried to do week 4 but had then dropped dead during the show, it would *still* be a three-couple final, yeah?"
The star then concluded: "So anyway, the headlines are: sorry about everything, I'm not doing the thing, I'm fine now btw, and do enjoy the final which will obviously be brilliant because they're all brilliant. See ya! x".
Related: Strictly Come Dancing's John Whaite reveals which dance was a "powerful moment"
Webb explained after his departure that he found Strictly a "brutal" and "weird" experience.
This weekend will see remaining couples Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, John Whaite and Johannes Radebe, and AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington compete in the finale for the coveted Glitterball Trophy.
Strictly Come Dancing 2021 airs on Saturday nights on BBC One, with results shows every Sunday. Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights at 6.30pm on BBC Two.
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