Will Bayley has vowed to be back stronger next week after he was forced to miss Saturday’s live Strictly Come Dancing show after suffering an injury in rehearsal.

Will and partner Janette Manrara had been due to dance the jive to Little Richard’s Casper in the Halloween edition of the show.

However, the Paralympic champion landed awkwardly after jumping from a table in the Strictly studio during rehearsal and was ruled out by medics from competing on Saturday night. Under the programme’s rules, he was given a bye to next week’s show.

When the slot came for Will and Janette’s dance, footage was played from the rehearsal, and Will told the audience he had feared the worst in the seconds after the fall.

“As I landed, I landed with a straight leg and I thought I’d broken my leg because I never felt anything like it before, but luckily it’s not as severe as what I thought. I’ll come back even stronger next week.”

Will also spoke about the previous week’s show, when he and Janette had scored 32 points with their contemporary dance performed to 7 Years – with the judges moved by their performance.

Will said: “Last Saturday was such an amazing night, one of the best, most memorable moments of my life.”