Injured Rycroft skips 'Dancing' live show

Dancing With The Stars contestant Melissa Rycroft was forced to drop out of last night's live show after injuring her ribs in rehearsals.

Speaking during the programme, host Tom Bergeron informed viewers that the Bachelor star had "suffered a painful rib injury" and that "complications" would prevent her from taking to the floor.

"Up until a half hour before the show, she was still trying to dance for me and she was in complete pain," her professional partner Tony Dovolani told Us Weekly.

"She has a high threshold for pain - and she still came on stage and tried to dance for me and that says a lot about her... [but] she couldn't breathe, so I picked her up, as I would pick up my own daughter. I brought her backstage and tried to calm her down and help her rest."

He added: "I have to tell you, I don't think any other celebrity would have done that - she still tried to dance. That says a lot about a person."

Rycroft's absence meant that the judging panel was forced to score her jive based on a rehearsal video. She is expected to be fit enough to return to the ABC show next week.

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