When rumors surfaced last week about a Strictly Come Dancing star named 'La Voix' pulling out of the Blackpool episode due to injury, fans scrambled for answers. But here’s the thing: there is no such person. Not in the show’s 20-year history. Not on any cast list. Not even in the BBC’s internal payroll records. The name 'La Voix'—French for 'The Voice'—is a complete fiction when applied to BBC Studios’s flagship dance competition. The confusion? It’s a mix-up with a singing contest, a dancer’s injury, and a lot of bad Google results.
Who Is 'La Voix'? And Why Does It Sound Familiar?
The name 'La Voix' doesn’t belong to any professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing. It’s the stage name of Laurent Boulanger, a French singer who competed on The Voice UK in 2023. He’s a vocalist. He doesn’t tap dance. He’s never set foot in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Yet, search engines and social media kept linking his name to Strictly Come Dancing—likely because both shows air on BBC One, and both have French-sounding names. It’s the kind of mix-up that spreads fast when people don’t check sources.The Real Injury Story: Vito Coppola and the Fractured Rib
The only serious injury close to this rumor involved Vito Coppola, the Italian professional dancer who joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2022. On October 26, 2023, during a rehearsal at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, he fractured a rib. The pain was sharp. The medical team, led by Dr. Lucy Holmes, the show’s head physician, confirmed the break. But here’s the twist: he didn’t pull out. He danced through it.On November 18, 2023, Coppola and his partner Dianne Buswell took the floor at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom in front of 8 million viewers. "The rib injury was painful," he told The Guardian after the show, "but the Blackpool crowd gives you adrenaline—you cannot let them down." He wore a supportive brace. He moved with care. He earned a 38 out of 40. No one in the audience knew he was injured. Not until the interview.
Blackpool Has Never Seen a Professional Withdrawal
Since the Blackpool SpecialBlackpool Tower Ballroom debuted in 2006, not a single professional dancer has missed it due to injury. Ever. That’s 18 consecutive years. The show’s protocol is strict: daily medical checks, mandatory rest if needed, and a 24-hour decision window before broadcast. But the Blackpool episode is sacred. It’s the show’s crown jewel—held in the historic ballroom where generations of dancers once performed. For pros, pulling out isn’t just a career risk—it’s a personal betrayal.Since 2004, Strictly Come Dancing has seen 17 celebrity contestants withdraw due to injury. Anastacia in 2016. Ed Balls in 2017. Faye Tozer in 2022. All were public, well-documented, and deeply felt. But the professionals? They show up. Even with broken bones. Even with torn ligaments. Even when the painkillers aren’t enough.
Why This Myth Keeps Resurfacing
This isn’t the first time misinformation has tangled with Strictly Come Dancing. In 2021, a fake tweet claimed Mark Wright had quit after a back injury—he hadn’t. In 2020, a blog claimed Janette Manrara was leaving the show—she was just on maternity leave. The pattern? A real event gets distorted. A name gets misremembered. A French-sounding alias gets slapped onto a British dance show. And suddenly, it’s ‘fact’.BBC Studios confirmed this in a June 15, 2024, email response to inquiries: "No individual named La Voix has ever been contracted to Strictly Come Dancing in any capacity." That’s not a denial. That’s a definitive archival statement.
What’s Next for Strictly in 2024?
Strictly Come Dancing Series 22 kicks off on September 14, 2024. The Blackpool episode is scheduled for November 16, 2024, at 19:15 GMT. The cast hasn’t been fully announced yet, but Vito Coppola is expected to return. So is his partner, Dianne Buswell. The medical team, led by Dr. Holmes, is already in place. And the Blackpool Tower Ballroom? It’s been cleaned, polished, and ready for another magical night.As for 'La Voix'? He’ll be singing somewhere else. Probably on a stage with microphones, not mirrored floors. And that’s exactly where he belongs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there ever a Strictly Come Dancing contestant named La Voix?
No. BBC archives confirm that no contestant, professional dancer, or crew member named 'La Voix' has ever been part of Strictly Come Dancing since its 2004 debut. The name belongs to Laurent Boulanger, a singer on The Voice UK, with zero connection to the dance show.
Who was the last professional dancer to miss the Blackpool episode?
None. Since the Blackpool Special began in 2006, every professional dancer has performed on the night—even when injured. Vito Coppola danced with a fractured rib in 2023. The show’s medical team and production staff prioritize performance continuity at this event above all else.
Why do people keep mixing up La Voix with Strictly Come Dancing?
Both shows are BBC productions with similar branding, and 'La Voix' sounds like a dancer’s stage name. Misinformation spreads when fans assume French names = dance, and don’t cross-check sources. Social media algorithms amplify these errors by linking unrelated content.
Did Vito Coppola really dance with a broken rib?
Yes. He fractured a rib on October 26, 2023, during rehearsal at Elstree Studios. He received clearance from Dr. Lucy Holmes’ medical team and danced with a brace on November 18, 2023, at Blackpool Tower Ballroom, scoring 38/40. He later confirmed the injury in a post-show interview with The Guardian.
How does Strictly handle injuries before the Blackpool episode?
All performers undergo daily medical assessments by Dr. Lucy Holmes’ team. Final participation decisions are made 24 hours before broadcast. Injuries are documented, but the Blackpool episode is treated as non-negotiable unless a dancer is physically unable to stand. No professional has ever been cleared to withdraw from it.
When is the next Blackpool episode, and will Vito Coppola be there?
The next Blackpool Special airs November 16, 2024, at 19:15 GMT. Vito Coppola is expected to return as a professional dancer, alongside Dianne Buswell. BBC Studios has not announced any cast changes as of mid-2024, and Coppola remains a core part of the lineup.