Presenter, AJ Odudu, has returned to her Lancashire home for Christmas after a disappointing Strictly Come Dancing final.
The 33-year-old was in high spirits after her sister drove her back to her Blackburn home where her mother was waiting for her.
The Strictly Come Dancing star tore a ligament in her foot during rehearsals for the BBC show’s final – which she had to withdraw from due to injury.
AJ is still on crutches and unable to drive – which meant her sister, Abigail, had to pick her up and take her to her Blackburn home in the Whalley Range area.
Posting to her Instagram page, AJ said: “Driving home for Christmas.
“My sister is here.
“She literally has come to save the day. Uff’s flew from Brazil, was meant to be flying to Manchester, came to London, got insured on my car and boom.”
AJ added that she has been packing “for hours” and said loading the presents into the back of the car has been like a “game of Tetris”.
She said: “Merry Christmas everyone. I’m starting to feel really festive because we are finally on the road – for a solid minimum of five hours.”
When she landed in Blackburn, AJ shared a video of her mum, Florence, who said: “Welcome home and Merry Christmas. Your mum is ready for you [with a foot rest].”
The journey homes comes after an emotional few days for AJ who took a step back from social media after being forced to pull out of Strictly Come Dancing.
Taking to her Instagram account, AJ made a video for her followers explaining why she had been relatively silent since the Strictly final aired.
She said: “I just went off to cry for days… and now I’m back.
“I just feel really happy now because what I’ve realised is, yes, Strictly didn’t end in the way I truly wanted it to end but I am still grateful for the whole experience.
“I just feel grateful that I was part of the series that was the most inclusive and progressive it has ever been.
“I’ve made the best friends and I’ve had the best time. And yes – I am still chatting to Kai.
“I just want to say a massive thank you for your kind messages and well wishes. It’s really got me through these last few days.
“It’s been amazing and truly uplifting.”
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