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Strictly Come Dancing’s Alex Kingston reveals she is secretly battling sickness on the show

The actress has been turning green in training and in the ballroom

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Alex Kingston has been plagued by sickness in the Strictly Come Dancing rehearsal room – and during the live shows.

The ER and Doctor Who actress, 62, has been hit with bad motion sickness while dancing with her pro partner, Johannes Radebe, 38.

It is so bad that Alex is taking multiple measures to stop her turning green in front of the cameras.

Alex revealed her plight during an appearance on Strictly’s spin-off show, It Takes Two. It came as they showed a clip of Johannes lifting Alex into the air and spinning her around above his head.

Alex Kingston in rehearsals
Alex Kingston looked pale in Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals before admitting she is suffering with sickness (Credit: BBC)

The footage was taken in the training room for last week’s Halloween show. Alex and Johannes had performed a Salsa on the night. When she was lowered to the floor, Alex looked noticeably unwell.

It Takes Two host Fleur asked: “Did you take any sea-sickness pills?” Alex replied: “Absolutely!”

She added: “I had sea-sickness wristbands on all through rehearsals. And then, I knew I couldn’t wear the wristbands on the show night, so I popped two tablets.

“I’ve had to do it for Viennese Waltz and I think I’m going to have to do it for the Paso Doble.”

Where are Alex and Johannes on the leaderboard?

Alex and Johannes finished Halloween Week in joint third place on the leaderboard. Their Salsa was themed around the devil and their song was Horny by Hot ‘N’ Juicy Mousse T. One former pro has since hit out, however, insisting it was unsuitable for family viewing.

But Shirley Ballas was impressed, telling Alex on the night: “Those hips! I have never seen that kind of rotation, I loved it!” Anton Du Beke simply described their dance as “amazing”.

Alex and Johannes scored a total of 35. They finished the night in third place alongside Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, and La Voix and Aljaz Škorjanec.

What is their next dance?

This week, the couple are doing a Paso Doble to Amparito Roca. Fleur told Alex it is “one of the most famous Paso Doble pieces ever written”.  Alex told her: “Really? I’ve never heard it before!”

Jojo and Alex in Halloween week
Alex was forced to take sea-sickness pills before last week’s Salsa with Johannes (Credit: BBC)

She added: “It is very difficult. Talk about contorted!” But Johannes reassured Alex and Fleur: “I have filled it up with a lot of content and it is steps that are quite traditional to a Paso Doble. It falls beautifully on her body.

“The fact we have a synergy between us, I lead and she goes, I think it’s going to be quite emotional. Every time I see her move, I’m like, ‘Wow, she’s reaching another level’.”

Alex and Johannes will be performing their Paso Doble during Saturday night’s Strictly Come Dancing. There is no theme for the show this week, meaning it is back to basics in the ballroom.

We just hope Alex remembers to take her sickness pills!

Read more: ‘Truth’ about Strictly’s ‘bottom four’ revealed: ‘It’s anxiety-inducing’

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Strictly Come Dancing continues at 6.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday November 8, 2025.


Natasha Rigler
Assistant News & Features Editor (TV Guide)