Strictly Come Dancing star Ricky Whittle still has plans to run a marathon despite having a hernia. The Hollyoaks actor has been suffering from a hernia the size of a tennis ball for weeks, according to reports.
Whittle did not tell anybody in case he was forced to quit the dance competition by doctors.
The 28-year-old is scheduled to have an operation in the New Year and has been told he will need six weeks to recover.
However, he is still determined to run the London Marathon in April.
Whittle kept his hernia a secret from his dance partner Natalie Lowe, who only found out after Ricky collapsed in pain.
Whittle told The Sun: "My back was a big problem.
"I pulled a muscle in a dress rehearsal because I was struggling with the lift in the afternoon.
"I thought I was going to have to pull out at one stage. I really did. I was kneeling on one knee and I thought, `This is it'."
Explaining how Lowe discovered his injury, he added: "She is very switched on and she knew that something was wrong.
"She said, `What's going on? You're injured aren't you? You've got a hernia haven't you? It's not worth it. It's only a TV show..'
"I convinced her I could do it, but then she still wanted to take the lifts out.
"In the end after a long time in physiotherapy we did it, and I'm so proud."
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