Stefan Dennis withdraws from Strictly Come Dancing due to injury

Actor and Neighbors star Stefan Dennis has withdrawn from Strictly Come Dancing due to injury.

“They told me on Saturday that I had torn my calf so severely that I had to withdraw from the show,” he said in a statement.

The Australian was a contestant on the BBC dance show, partnered with professional Dianne Buswell.

“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to both Strictly Family and Dianne for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of dancing with my partner (when my leg is better),” the 66-year-old added.

The actor had just returned to the series after missing the third week of performance due to illness.

“I had a brief spin, a bit of dizziness,” he said during an appearance on the Strictly: It Takes Two co-show.

“But everything was fine, I got myself back together with the help of some good people at the hospital,” he added.

Dennis’ comeback in the fourth week of Saturday’s show saw him and Buswell achieve their highest ratings of the series with their Charleston performance of Dance Monkey by Australian musician Tones and I.

Judge Shirley Ballas said Dennis “came back with a bang” and was pushed to his limits with a grueling routine.

The pair are scheduled to be interviewed on Strictly: It Takes Two on Wednesday.

Dennis is best known for his role as Paul Robinson in the TV series Neighbors, the longest-running character in Australian television history.

After his first appearance in 1985, he appeared in 6,000 episodes over four decades.