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Dancer back in BBC final after rival is injured
Preston's very own Billy Elliott, Alastair Postlethwaite, is back in TV talent show So You Think You Can Dance after injury forced finalist Robbie White to pull out.
Alastair was told yesterday by BBC1 bosses that he was in the Grand Final of the Saturday night primetime show after Robbie fell in rehearsals, dislocating his shoulder.
The farmer's son turned ballet dancer crashed out of the show, losing to Robbie in last Saturday's 'dance off,' after judges Nigel Lythgoe and Arlene Phillips both slammed his dancing.
But he was whisked over to BBC HQ yesterday morning for "talks" after Robbie suffered the injury while practising a hip hop routine for the show on Tuesday.
Then, around 3pm, they broke the news that Alastair was back in the show presented by Cat Deeley. He is one of just four finalists competing for the 100,000 prize.
The elated 28-year-old immediately rang his brother Andrew and mother Angela back in his home village of Tarleton to tell them his dream was not over after all.
He now has just two days to practise his routines for the final, but told his thrilled family that he intends to give his all to the challenge.
Angela said: "Can you believe it? I'm still in a state of shock! I was in shock anyway after last Saturday, but this is incredible.
"I have just spoken to Alastair. He's very excited but panicking a bit because he has only a few days to do it.
"I can't believe it. I'd just come to terms with the fact that he was out – and then this happens! Robbie, as you can imagine, is absolutely devastated."
The family – Angela, dad Walter and brother Stuart along with Alastair's girlfriend Jess, are determined to go and support him. Brother Andrew is staying at home to vote.
Angela said: "He said to me, 'Don't come, Mum.' I said, 'You must be joking! Just get as many tickets as you can!'"
Alastair is now practising furiously for Saturday night's final. Angela said: "I told him to go for the jugular. He's got nothing to lose now."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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