Nick Knowles' Strictly future in balance with new blow - and there's 'no alternative'

Nick Knowles has been given one final chance to prove he is fit enough to take part in Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing after suffering a serious knee injury

The fate of injured Nick Knowles on Strictly Come Dancing hangs in the balance, with a decision on his ability to compete being postponed until tomorrow to maximise his chances of remaining in the contest.

However, sources close to the show suggest that the very dance that led to his injury - the Charleston - is at the heart of the problem, as it's a routine that can't be executed without significant leg flicks and knee movements. The 62 year old DIY SOS presenter has resumed training today and has been cleared to perform the number he had prepared for last Saturday's Movie Week.

He and his dance partner Luba Mushtuk are hopeful that he will recuperate sufficiently to present their routine to Rain on the Roof from Paddington 2. Yet, the Charleston is notoriously tough on the knees due to its relentless spins and gyrations - not to mention the iconic "knock knee" step often incorporated for laughs.

The dance's distinctive off-beat tempo, bent knees, and exuberant arm flails can lead to an affliction known as "Charleston knee". An insider from the show mentioned there wasn't enough time to choreograph a new, less strenuous dance for his injured leg, reports the Mirror.

"The plan is to rehearse today and Friday and then a final decision will be made about Saturday evening. He is going to try and do the routine he'd already learned for Movie Week. It's unfortunate it's a Charleston because it's very hard to do without lots of knee action, but there is no alternative. Everyone has their fingers crossed for him," the insider shared.

Nick was granted a week's reprieve after being advised to rest his injured leg, but according to Strictly Come Dancing guidelines, any contestant can only skip one week due to illness or injury before they are required to withdraw from the competition. After spending time resting since last Friday, he has now been cleared by the show's medical team and physiotherapists to cautiously resume training today.

Luba, his dance partner, has pledged to take it easy on him and has even modified their routine to ease the pressure.

With his place in the BBC contest now uncertain, Knowles expressed his resolve to press on, feeling "very hopeful" about performing live this Saturday evening. He noticed improvement each day, with his leg getting "a little bit better".

During an appearance on It Takes Two earlier in the week, he mentioned that if he could complete two days of practice, "it's not necessarily the end of it".

Paul Merson could stand to gain from his misfortune, as the footballer is currently the bookies' favourite to be voted off the show this weekend.