Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Debbie McGee makes shock announcement ahead of final
STRICTLY COME DANCING star Debbie McGee has postponed her appearance in Beauty and the Beast as she sets her sights on the Glitterball trophy.
Strictly Come Dancing 2017: Debbie McGee makes shock announcement ahead of final
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The 59-year-old is set to play fairy Adorabella Marigold Angelpie in the York production from Friday, December 15.
However, with the magician's assistant scoring 40 points and topping the leaderboard after her performance of the Tango with Giovanni Pernice, she has chosen to postpone her appearance to focus on the final.
Debbie, who quickly became a frontrunner to win Strictly Come Dancing, will now not appear as Adorabella until Sunday, December 17.
A representative for the production told The Sun: "Debbie will not be performing on the 16th December, however, she will be doing all the other performances from 17th December until 7th January."
Strictly Come Dancing: Debbie McGee makes shock announcement ahead of final
Strictly Come Dancing: Debbie has become one of the favourites to win
Her understudy will be replacing her for the two performances on the day of the Strictly final.
The rep added that they understood Debbie would be "fitting her Strictly rehearsals in whilst rehearsing for panto in York at the beginning of December".
It comes after Debbie fuelled romance rumours with her professional partner Giovanni as they were spotted in a cosy clinch.
As they waited outside of a studio together they could be seen standing very close to one another as the Italian put his hands around her face.
Strictly Come Dancing: Debbie has postponed her appearance in Beauty and the Beast
Strictly Come Dancing: Debbie and Giovanni fuelled romance rumours
Looking up at him, Debbie appeared to be leaning into the 27-year-old for a kiss just moments before their training began.
The pair are taking on the Salsa this weekend and will be performing to I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You by Boys Town Gang.
Strictly Come Dancing 2017 continues Saturday at 6.45pm on BBC One.