Ali Bastian is anxiously awaiting the doctor's verdict on whether she will be fit to compete on this Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing.

Ali, who is one of this year's favourites to win, has been unable to walk since injuring her foot during a dance rehearsal with partner Brian Fortuna on Monday.

On Wednesday night Brian told Claudia Winkleman on Strictly Come Dancing's spin-off show It Takes Two that the couple were having to entertain the "horrible thought" of having to pull out of the competition after Ali, 26, was diagnosed with severe bruising to her right foot.

A video broadcast on the programme shows The Bill star Ali slipping and falling down hard on her right foot before wincing with pain.

The pair were learning the Charleston, which professional dancer Brian said is the worst dance they could be doing in light of Bastian's injury.

He said: "It couldn't be a worse case scenario because the Charleston is constantly bouncing up and down on the balls of the feet. I'm actually shaking. It's very disappointing. The prospect of having to leave the competition after everything we've put in is a horrible thought".

Brian said he was worried that, even if the doctor gave her the go-ahead, the pair would be behind with their rehearsing.

"There's three days to the competition and we haven't rehearsed and she can't walk. Fingers crossed we'll pull it off," he told Claudia.

A BBC spokesman said Ali was being seen by a doctor on Thursday afternoon so would decide then whether or not to go ahead.