Rhys Stephenson addresses fans' claims he could replace AJ Odudu at BBC Strictly final

Strictly Come Dancing's Motsi Mabuse has responded after fans claimed she was 'unhappy' at the end of the show's final.

Strictly Come Dancing's final will air at a slightly later time of 7:10pm on Saturday night after AJ Odudu 's devastating exit due to injury. The hit BBC One dance show had been set to start at 7pm on 18 December but will now start ten minutes later and finish at 9pm.

Strictly Come Dancing viewers want Rhys Stephenson to replace AJ Odudu after the TV presenter had to pull out of the competition due to a foot injury. Rhys, 28, was eliminated from the competition last week after making it all the way to the semi-finals alongside his partner, Nancy Xu, 30.

Strictly Come Dancing finalist AJ Odudu has had to pull out of the BBC competition one day before the final due to her painful ankle injury.The 33 year old TV presenter, who has wowed the judges all series alongside pro dance partner Kai Widdrington, suffered a devastating blow when she hurt her right ankle.The pain was so bad that she ‘projectile vomited’ and now AJ cannot stand or put weight on her foot without crutches, leaving her with no choice but to withdraw from the show.

Tilly Ramsay has revealed that she is 'so sad' to miss the Strictly Come Dancing final on Saturday 18 December after testing positive for coronavirus.The 20 year old, who was the ninth star to be voted off the BBC series this year, shared with her 1.2million Instagram followers how she 'will be watching from her sofa' as she cheers on AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice along with John Whaite and Johannes Radebe.

CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson narrowly missed out on a place in the Strictly Come Dancing final after becoming the 11th contestant to be eliminated from the dance competition in what was hailed "the most amazing dance off ever" against John Whaite.