Strictly Come Dancing favourite Aston Merrygold drops his partner Janette Manrara on her HEAD in training
STRICTLY favourite Aston Merrygold’s training was thrown into crisis when he dropped his partner head first on the floor.
Pro dancer Janette Manrara had to be checked over after toppling from the ex-JLS singer’s shoulders during an ambitious salsa.
US star Janette, 33, was cleared to carry on, with the pair under pressure to put on another storming performance on Saturday.
A source said of Wednesday’s scary spill: “It was really nasty.
“Aston was lifting Janette but it went horribly wrong.
“It left her shaken and she had to be checked over by the team. Fortunately it looks like she’s fine, which is a big relief.
“But it’s a confidence knock for them.
“Aston was mortified. He couldn’t stop apologising.
“Janette was very gracious and doesn’t want it to impact him.
“She still trusts him to get the lift right when it really counts on Saturday night.”
The pair are favourites to lift the BBC1 show’s Glitter Ball Trophy after their foxtrot topped last week’s leaderboard.
This week they choreographed an even bolder salsa to pop smash-hit Despacito, featuring daring lifts and moves.
The source added: “They obviously feel under pressure to live up to their early success and that has led to them coming up with an incredibly ambitious routine.
“But it is dangerous and a lot can go wrong.
“Janette has told Aston she believes he can do it but it comes with a significant risk.
“He could very easily kick her in the head in another move they’re planning.
“But they are determined to finish top again.”
Aston’s skills on the dancefloor won him rave reviews from the judges last week.
But it raises questions on whether his extensive experience gives him an unfair advantage.
After years dancing on stage the former boyband star, 29, has even sat on the judging panel of rival Sky show Got To Dance.
BODY TO BODY Strictly's Mollie King and AJ Pritchard get VERY close in new pic
He is not the first celebrity dancer to drop his partner in rehearsals.
And the former Shadow Chancellor suffered a near-miss during a live show, frantically grasping to keep Katya aloft during their American Smooth.
