KATCHING MY I: Ola Jordan returns to Strictly Come Dancing after overcoming devastating ski injury which threatened to end her career

Thursday, 23 April 2015

Ola Jordan returns to Strictly Come Dancing after overcoming devastating ski injury which threatened to end her career

PUBLISHED: 15:04, 23 April 2015 | UPDATED: 16:38, 23 April 2015

She was forced to pull out of Channel 4 show The Jump in December after suffering a devastating ski injury during training.

And while there was doubt if she would ever dance professionally again, Ola Jordan, 32, has made such a remarkable recovery that she will take part in the latest season of Strictly Come Dancing.

Ola was among the line-up when the professional dancers were announced by the BBC on Thursday, and looked stunning in her glitzy promotional picture.

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She's back: Ola Jordan has returned to Strictly Come Dancing, despite being forced to pull out of Channel 4 show The Jump in December after suffering a devastating ski injury during training

Serious injury: In February Ola was still on crutches but she seems to have made a miraculous recovery

With her hair back to a dark blonde, after a stint as a brunette, Ola dazzled in a silver gown with slits on the thighs.

The Polish ballroom dancer was understood to have signed a lucrative deal to appear on the second series of The Jump, but the appearance was left in tatters after she damaged her knee and hip while training at Hemel Hempstead indoor ski centre.

After suffering the cruciate ligament injury, Ola had a painstaking bid to walk without crutches.

'I was devastated,' she told ITV's Lorraine Kelly. 'Obviously first thing in my head was 'am I going to dance again?', and yes I will. It's just going to take time unfortunately.'

The injury, a 'freak accident' following her attempt to navigate a downward slope without poles, ruled Ola, who was quickly replaced by Chloe Madeley, out of action for months.

Ola reveals she will dance again after devastating injury

Strutting their stuff: Aliona Vilani and Karen Hauer will also be lining out alongside this year's celebrity contestants

Setback aside, Ola - married to fellow dancer and former Celebrity Big Brother star James Jordan - admitted in February that she was keen to continue her long-standing association with Strictly, the show she joined in 2006, and already has her sights set on an ideal dance partner.

'I would love to go back to Strictly but obviously as dancers we don't find out until later in the year. I would love to be ready and I would love to be able to do the show again,' she said.

'My physio, my doctors said I would be 100 per cent ready for that. Ben Shephard would be brilliant. He would be perfect for me, height and everything.'

Strictly glamorous: Natalie Lowe and Janette Manrara will bring their own glamour back to the show

Lady in red: Joanne Clifton is yet another of the glamorous ladies who will strut her stuff on the dancefloor

Clearly there has been a thawing as bosses on the BBC show were said to be furious with the dancer, whose initial training for The Jump coincided with semi-final preparations with Strictly, won last year by TV presenter Caroline Flack.

A source told The Sun: 'This is not an ideal scenario on the eve of one of our biggest shows of the year.

'While naturally concerned for Ola's well-being, the producers are seething that she was hurt while training for a rival show.

Strictly siren: Kristina Rihannoff has been popular with viewers of the BBC show for years

'We just cannot understand what she was thinking, doing winter sports while Strictly is at such a crucial stage.'

Husband James was believed to be by her side as she recovered in hospital following the accident before being driven home the following day.

'It was a freak accident and nobody's fault,' a separate source told the paper.

Ola had previously confessed to Hello! magazine that her injury, sustained last December, was like a 'bad dream.'

He's back: Brendan Cole has become an institution on the show and will be back for the latest season

She said: 'I would rather have broken both legs than suffer this type of injury because it will take much longer to recover. Every morning, I'd wake up thinking it was a bad dream. Then the horror of it would hit me.

'I'm an active person, love dancing and going to the gym, but I couldn't even walk properly.'

In a statement Lousie Rainbow, Executive Producer said: 'We are thrilled with our pro-dancer line up this year. Not only are some of the viewers' favourites returning, but we also have some exciting new dancers joining the Strictly family. I think it's safe to say that this year's Strictly will be as exciting and entertaining as always.'

He's already a winner: Pasha Kovalev met his girlfriend Rachel Riley on the show, although they did not start dating immediately

And on the departures of Iveta Lukosiute and Trent Whiddon, from the show, she said: 'Iveta Lukosiute has been with us for three series and we would like to thank her for her wonderful contribution to the show and wish her the very best for the future. And huge thanks also to Trent Whiddon who danced so beautifully with Pixie last year.'

Iveta said: 'I really enjoyed by experience on Strictly Come Dancing. I loved everything about the show, dancers, judges, BBC, celebrities, fans – all of it was a pleasure to be part of.

'This year I will focus more on my dance school in New York City since I was away so much, however, I will be more than happy to stay involved with the show in the future.'

Trent added: 'I was very happy to be part of the last season and very thankful for the opportunity.'