Strictly Come Dancing stars Nick Knowles and Paul Merson were both missing from the live final.
Absent from the climactic evening of December 12, the DIY SOS host and the ex-footballer were replaced by images held aloft during the final group performance, unable to join their 2024 series colleagues.
Nick earlier faced elimination in the series, being the third to leave after a dance-off against ex-X Factor champion Shayne Ward and partner Nancy Xu.
Paul, the fourth contestant to exit the competition, had informed production that ill health would prevent his attendance. A Strictly spokesperson conveyed the news to The Sun, expressing: "Paul is unwell today unfortunately. He will be very much missed and is sad he couldn't make it."
In a conversation with fellow Strictly contender Wynne Evans on his BBC Radio Wales programme, Nick revealed his own ordeal. Trying to downplay his condition, he determined to bow out on the dance floor rather than due to injury.
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A recent operation four weeks ago was healing well, but further surgery meant Nick had to forgo the finale. He regretfully told Wynne: "I've got the operation on my knee, but it means, mate, that I'm not going to see you for the final. My operation's on the 12th, and the final's on the 14th.", reports Surrey Live.
Nick reflected on his departure from the show during an appearance on the BBC Strictly spin-off, It Takes Two.
He remarked: "I had a week off, you can see actually everybody had progressed a lot in that week and I just didn't have time to be able to catch up and do well enough to stay in the competition."
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He conceded that his elimination was justified, adding: "I think it was the right result in the end and it means that I can now get the various bits of me that are falling off sorted out.
"I might have an operation on the arm this week and then another operation on the knee in three weeks' time so I can get myself sorted."
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One
