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Strictly Come Dancing bosses have made contingency plans in case Nick Knowles is forced to pull out of the show this weekend.
The DIY SOS presenter injured his biceps while changing a tire on Sunday and his left arm has been placed in a sling.
Producers do not want to lose their most famous star from the 20th anniversary series at all costs.
They have made plans to give the 62-year-old a ‘free pass’ for week three while he recovers, rather than forcing him to withdraw from competition completely.
A source said: ‘They are all anxiously awaiting the green light from the medical team for Nick to take part this weekend, but they are determined not to pull him from the show.
Strictly Come Dancing bosses have drawn up contingency plans in case Nick Knowles has to pull out of the show this weekend
Producers do not want to lose their most striking star from the 20th anniversary series at all costs
“He’s so popular with the viewers, and if he needs time to recover, he gets a free pass to return the following week, if all goes well.”
“If that bothers other candidates, then so be it. The bosses want him back.”
Yesterday, Knowles was under medical supervision from doctors and physiotherapists in a desperate attempt to stay in the race.
He will return to Strictly rehearsals on Wednesday, where doctors will make a final decision on whether he can continue.
This weekend the first famous participant will be voted out of the dance show.
After visiting Harley Street on Monday for an emergency MRI scan, Knowles told Strictly spin-off It Takes Two he was “really hopeful” he would be able to continue with the programme.
But presenter Janette Manrara told viewers: ‘At this point we don’t know if you will be able to dance on Saturday.’
He will dance an American Smooth with his professional partner Luba Mushtuk at Blur’s Parklife, provided he gets the green light from the doctors.
After visiting Harley Street on Monday for an emergency MRI scan, Knowles told Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two that he remained ‘very hopeful’ that he would be able to continue with the show
He will return to Strictly rehearsals on Wednesday, where doctors will make a final decision on whether he can continue.
Mushtuk joked that they were going to make Knowles’s garland “sparkly,” saying it’s “still in a perfect position on his right arm.”
She said the pair can work on “perfect footwork” for the foxtrot element of the dance and hopefully can still do a lift, noting they can “work around” the injury.
Knowles added: ‘Luckily I’m very tall and Luba is very light, so I can lift with one arm.’
A BBC insider said: ‘No final decision has been made yet. We are still very much hoping that Nick will dance this weekend.
‘We are all busy treating the injury. Nick really wants to dance, his health is the priority and we are all keeping our fingers crossed.’
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday at 6.15pm.