Kristian Nairn, the actor known for his role in Game of Thrones, has withdrawn from this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, just days after the cast announcement. He cited “a high level of stress and a little bit of grief” as contributing factors.
Nairn, 49, rose to prominence playing Hodor, the loyal servant of House Stark, in the acclaimed HBO series.
In a statement to his Instagram followers, Nairn explained that following last week’s announcement, his challenges had “manifested physically” and caused “a spike in my vitals as an area of concern”.
Lewis Cope, recognized for his portrayal of Nicky Milligan in ITV’s Emmerdale, will step in to replace Nairn on this season’s show.
“I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor and joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve always been a fan of the show and cannot wait to get started!” Cope expressed in a statement.
Cope’s acting credits also include appearances in TV series such as Vera, Mrs Sidhu Investigates, and Hetty Feather.
Additionally, he played the lead role of Leonard Vole in the Olivier-nominated play, Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution.
Cope recounted learning about his last-minute casting while walking down Oxford Street in London with a friend.
“I got the phone call, and it was like, right we have to do it,” he shared during an appearance on the BBC’s The One Show on Thursday.
“If anything, [joining the show late] has helped me because I haven’t really had time to think about it or anything, so the excitement has taken over and I’m all in.”
Addressing his withdrawal in a video on Instagram on Thursday, Nairn stated: “I’ve been given a wonderful opportunity to be part of the Strictly Come Dancing family, as you may know.”
“Sadly, I’m having to withdraw from this year’s show. There’s been such a response, I definitely want to share why. Like so many people at the minute, I’ve been dealing with a high level of stress and a little bit of grief, if I’m going to be really real.
“I’ve always been my mother’s son and I’ve always powered through things like this in the past. I think I’ve got a pretty healthy attitude towards stuff like this. Well, I thought I did, at least.
“But for the first time it’s manifested physically and has caused a spike in my vitals as sort of an area of concern.”
Nairn’s other notable role includes playing Wee John Feeney in the US TV period comedy drama Our Flag Means Death. He is also a house music DJ.
Last Friday, the 6ft 10in Northern Irishman was revealed as the 15th and final contestant for this year’s Strictly.
Speaking on Thursday, he continued: “I am a big guy, always have been, ever since I set foot on this Earth, so I take my health very seriously, and I do see my doctor all the time, and I was checked for the show two weeks before [the announcement] and everything was fine, so he was happy for me to take part.
“Please know I’m OK. I’m under treatment already, and my doctor isn’t concerned. After two, maybe three weeks, I’ll be pretty much back to normal, but sadly… it’s not going to be in time for all the training and everything like that.”
He added: “I’m gutted. I was really looking forward to taking part in this.”
Nairn went on to say he had been “100% supported” by producers and others on the show.
“I’m going to be taking it easy for now, and I’ll be able to return to work very shortly.”
He added: “We live in strange, crazy times at the moment. So without being preachy, please look after yourself. Don’t ignore what’s going on inside your head.
“This is something I haven’t dealt with before, so this has really come as a surprise for me. I always thought I had this.”
He asked people not to worry about him, saying: “I’ve totally got this.”
When his participation was announced last Friday, he said taking part in the dance contest would be “a huge challenge for me physically, but I’m ready to rise to it.”
In a statement from the BBC on Thursday, his withdrawal was attributed to “unexpected medical reasons.”
The show’s executive producer Sarah James said: “We’ve absolutely loved getting to know Kristian in this short time, and he has all the makings of a brilliant Strictly Come Dancing contestant.
“We’re incredibly sorry to lose him from this year’s series and we all wish him a speedy recovery.”
The show, produced by BBC Studios, will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for its new series this September.
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