BBC Strictly Come Dancing professional Kai Widdrington missed out on a partner this year and Helen Skelton has said she’s ‘glad’ he wasn’t given a partner for a different reason

Helen Skelton has confessed she’s “pleased” that one professional dancer didn’t make the main Strictly line-up this year.

On Monday (September 16), the popular TV host joined Gethin Jones on Morning Live, where they welcomed ballroom expert Kai Widdrington to the show. The 41-year-old presenter sat down with the BBC favourite, 29, following the launch of the new series.

Regrettably, the award-winning dancer from Southampton didn’t secure a spot in the main line-up this year after former dancer Aljaz Skorjanec returned for the 20th anniversary special. Also making a comeback to the main stage is Amy Dowden alongside Dianne Buswell, Michelle Tsiakkas, Johannes Radebe.

Also stepping onto the ballroom floor are Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Jowita Przystal, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Vito Coppola, Nancy Xu. Despite not training a celebrity this year, Kai has secured a new job away from the famous ballroom, reports the Daily Star.

During the first episode of Morning Live, Helen unveiled the hunk’s new role on the BBC morning show. She said: “As we mentioned, it’s the return of the Glitterball! “.

He hopes to return to the main line-up next year ( Image: PA)

“Kai, we said this is your first time with us, I can say this, we’re friends. We saw you’ve not got a partner but we’re glad because it means you can hang out with us all week.”

Kai responded: “I’m here, you’ve got me all week. I’m here all week Monday to Friday doing Strictly fitness and yeah, it’s my first time, I can’t wait!”

The dancer expressed his disappointment at not being paired with a celebrity for this year’s series. Chatting exclusively with the Daily Star, he said: “Everyone wants to get a celebrity. Unfortunately it wasn’t my time this series.

“Two boys couldn’t have one this series and sadly I am one of them. Some of us don’t get partners and that’s the way it is. Let’s see what happens next year. Hopefully I’ll get one then.”

Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, and Katya Jones are also in the same boat. Despite this, he promised viewers would be in for a treat, remarking: “The line-up of celebs this year is amazing. It is going to be a fantastic series, as it always is.”

“We have been filming a lot of the group routines. There are some amazing ones. We have worked really hard through the summer to get them ready for the series. One of the ones I feature in is very funny.”