Natalie Gumede unable to perform on Strictly Come Dancing after fainting twice during rehearsals... but wins a free pass through to next week's show
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Natalie Gumede is unable to compete on Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing.
The 29-year-old actress has been ruled out of performing after fainting twice during rehearsals with her professional partner Artem Chingvintsev.
But as per the rules of the BBC One celebrity dancing competition, the former Coronation Street star will have a free pass through to next week's show.
Ruled out: Natalie Gumede has been ruled out of performing in Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing after fainting twice during rehearsals
A show spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Natalie Gumede will not perform in tonight's Strictly Come Dancing after fainting twice during rehearsals today.
'She has been checked by the medical team on site, and will have further medical checks later so in unable to dance tonight.
'As per the rules of Strictly she will have a 'buy' through to next week and the show will continue tonight with a public vote. Someone will still exit the competition this weekend.'
Disappointing: The 29-year-old actress has been ruled out of performing after fainting twice during rehearsals with her professional partner Artem Chingvintsev
Natalie first ran into difficulty when she fainted during the first band call on Saturday, before collapsing again in the dress rehearsal - both times at the end of her routine.
The former soap star - who is among the favourites to win the competition - has undergone an initial assessment on-site by medics and will undertake further medical examinations later on Saturday evening.
Natalie and Artem had been due to perform a jive to Tina Turner classic, Proud Mary.
This isn't the first time Natalie has experienced a problem during her Strictly Come Dancing stint; earlier in the competition she was almost ruled out of one week's performance due to a back injury. It is not known whether this is directly related to her current condition.
A new blow: The former Coronation Street star was last seen out and about on Thursday night when she and Artem turned on the Christmas lights at Manchester's Trafford Centre
In mid-October, the actress was diagnosed with a 'compressed disc and sciatica' after been struck down in pain during training with professional partner Artem.
But after undergoing physiotherapy and steroid injections, her condition improved.
A show spokesperson told MailOnline at the time: 'Thankfully Natalie hasn't slipped a disc, but she is suffering from a compressed disc and sciatica.
'This is when the central bit of a vertebrate bulges out due to tear in the outer, fibrous ring of the disc. She has had physio this morning and she is about to have steroid injections to ease the pain.'
Talented: As per the rules of the BBC One celebrity dancing competition, Natalie will have a free pass through to next week's show
Natalie has already emerged as a strong contender in this year's series, and has been praised by judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell for her talents on the dancefloor.
But the star was criticised by some viewers for being given an unfair advantage after it emerged that she had received dance training from the tender age of four.
Shortly after signing up for the BBC One show, it was revealed Natalie was listed as a ‘highly skilled’ dancer on her agency CV and worked professionally in the industry until she suffered an injury aged 19.
The actress was previously credited for her abilities in cabaret, contralto, jazz dancing, Latin American and tap dancing, having started training at the tender age of four.
In happier times: Natalie has already emerged as a strong contender in this year's series, and has been praised by judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell for her talents on the dancefloor
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2495637/Natalie-Gumede-unable-perform-Strictly-Come-Dancing-fainting-twice-rehearsals--wins-free-pass-weeks-show.html#ixzz2kBEA5JjP
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