AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington news left Strictly co-star Ugo Monye ‘devastated’ | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV
Ugo Monye, who was paired up with Oti Mabuse for the latest season of Strictly Come Dancing, explained how news about presenter AJ Odudu and her professional partner Kai Widdrington had left him “devastated” in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk. The rugby star, 38, has teamed up with Boots UK for the second series of the health and wellbeing podcast Taboo Talk, where he discusses the topic of chronic pain with host Vogue Williams.
Ugo admitted to Express.co.uk that, while he had been deeply affected by the incredible routines performed by winners Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice, he felt unsure of who would win at the time.
“It’s so split, as it should be, when I looked at the quality of the final,” he explained.
Ugo went on to share how saddened he was to learn that AJ and Kai would be unable to perform.
AJ was forced to pull out of the show’s final back in December after she tore a ligament in her right ankle.
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The injury left her unable to walk at first and, while the star tried to persevere, medical professionals told her that she would not be able to compete.
The DJ admitted that she was “deeply upset” at the time, adding that her experience with Kai was something that she would “treasure forever”.
“It was a shame that AJ and Kai didn’t get their moment,” Ugo said of the incident.
“I mean, I was devastated for them, and I’m good friends with AJ.
Reflecting on the final dances, Ugo said: “You’re watching it and your emotions are just bouncing like, you know, I’m wiping tears out my eyes, and Anton can even look at Rose after that.
“And then Johannes and John did that Pirates of the Caribbean dance – that was incredible, and for so many different reasons.
“Not only could we appreciate their dance, but we could appreciate who they are as people and the things that they really stand for.
“And that’s what I loved about it, that it felt beautiful. It was so much more than dance.”
“What Rose has done for the deaf community is incredible,” the rugby player said with feeling.
“It’s so cool to meet people who have different struggles, ailments, whatever it might be and get you to step into their world.”
“I stepped into her world and I got it – for all of like five or 10 seconds – I understood.
“And because I now understand, it makes me want to do better and do more. That’s why it was so powerful.”
Ugo is kicking off the first episode in series two of the Boots health & wellbeing podcast Taboo Talk, where he discusses the topic of chronic pain with host Vogue Williams.
