SAD NEWS :Strictly star forced to quit after doctors discover a “hole in her heart” in devastating health shock
The TV star is set to take to the BBC ballroom seven years after their health setback.
A Strictly star was previously forced to quit dancing after doctors discovered a hole in their heart (Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing star Graeme Hall was forced to put down his dancing shoes in 2019 when he suffered a devastating stroke. The professional dog trainer, 59, was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered a hole in his heart that needed an operation to fix it. During his recovery period, the TV presenter feared his dancing days were over after falling in love with the sport and even competing in several small competitions.
He told The Sun at the time: “I’d done a local competition called Strictly Northampton in 2012 and loved it so much that I carried it on as a hobby.” The broadcaster went on to compete in regional events held in church halls and community centres, but was forced to stop after his stroke.
Dog trainer Graeme Hall was forced to pull out of the show in 2019 after suffering from a stroke (Image: @dogfather.graeme/Instagram)
He confessed: “I was out of action for quite a while, and I thought it had brought an end to my dancing.” Seven years on, the dog trainer, best known for his role on Channel 5’s Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, is returning to the infamous ballroom in this year’s line-up.
Hall is now fully recovered and is preparing to make his dancing debut on the BBC stage this autumn. He reassured fans: “I’m fine now, but I had to put my dance bag away – now I’ve got it out of the loft and there’s all my kit and practice trousers, so I will be using those soon.”
Hall isn’t the first contestant to suffer setbacks due to heart troubles. Back in 2021, comedian Robert Webb was forced to withdraw mid-competition from the 19th series after experiencing symptoms during training. In a 2025 interview, Webb said he accepted the Strictly offer because “these opportunities don’t come along very often.”
He went on: “And I’d just nearly died, so I thought, ‘This is no time to be sitting on the edges. Why don’t you contribute and participate?'” Although Webb was in “quite good shape” in theory, the actor struggled to keep up with the show’s intense training schedule.
Robert Webb was forced to leave the show in 2021 after suffering similar health woes (Image: PA)
Webb admitted: “That schedule is law unto itself, and I just wasn’t anywhere close to being able to do that. I don’t even know if I could now. I don’t think it’d be a very good idea.” Strictly is set to return to the airwaves next month with its pre-recorded launch episode, in which the celebrities will be paired with their celebrity partners.
When asked about which partner he could be coupled up with, Graeme chuckled: “I don’t care which pro dancer I get because the bottom line is they are all brilliant.” Hall is set to take to the stage alongside his fellow contestants, including actor Lacy Turner, singer Delta Goodrem, TV personality Dani Dyer, actor Jamie Winstone and footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Also joining them are celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, Love Island star Cace Mercer, TV presenter Will Best, and House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia. Following behind them are Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, Winter Olympic gold medalist Tabby Stoecker, Emmerdale’s Lawrence Robb and football content creator John Nellis.
