Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn has been forced to pull out of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing due to “unexpected medical reasons” – but it’s not the first time he’s faced health battles
Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn has withdrawn from this year’s Strictly Come Dancing “due to unexpected medical reasons”. The 49-year-old says he was “truly looking forward” to participating in the competition.
The performer, famous for playing Hodor, now says he hopes to be “back on his feet very soon”. He had previously mentioned that appearing on the programme would be a “huge challenge for me physically”.
This follows the star being candid about various health struggles he has encountered over the years, reports the Mirror. Kristian revealed that his six series on Game of Thrones resulted in a back injury.
Hodor was frequently shown on screen carrying disabled Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) around on his back. He says he developed a pelvic tilt that needed six months of physiotherapy to correct.
Speaking on the Inside of You podcast with Michael Rosenbaum, Kristian said: “I do have a back problem, but that came from working on ‘Game Of Thrones. All that carrying..”
He revealed that Isaac became too heavy to carry as the series continued. By series six he says they decided to substitute his co-star with “a small lady named Samantha”.
Kristian was ultimately replaced by a body-double – a 7ft-tall wrestler called Brian. When asked if he had considered pursuing legal action against HBO, he responded: “It’s not something I want to go down, the show’s done so much for me.
“That’s such an American point of view! We don’t sue people back home for that.”
Prior to achieving stardom on Game of Thrones, Kristian worked as a house music DJ and confesses he battled cocaine addiction. He acknowledges he once “hoofed half a kilo” up his nose in one night.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, he said: “Until the age of 28 I’ve never taken drugs. I’ve never even smoked a spliff, never had the inclination. But cocaine is different. I love cocaine. Whether or not I like it is a different question: it gives me mad heart palpitations and white-knuckle anxiety.”
He confesses his substance abuse meant he “nearly died” after progressing from cocaine to ketamine. He reveals he encountered the drug “by accident” after consuming a “white powder” at a party.
He added: “I did the thing that most cokeheads do at some point. I moved on to ketamine. It wasn’t intentional – purely accidental, in fact. I was searching through the house for something – anything – to snort when I found a bag of white powder. As cocaine and ketamine look identical, I worked my way through it and very nearly died.”
Kristian disclosed he “lay in bed” with his heart pounding and “gasping for breath”. When he eventually regained consciousness hours later he reveals he discovered three handwritten letters apologising and explaining it would have been an accident if he died.
Kristian was confirmed as a participant on Strictly Come Dancing on Friday, August 15. Nevertheless BBC executives will now reveal his replacement on The One Show at 7pm this evening.
Announcing his departure from the show, he expressed: “With a heavy heart, I have to step back from this season of Strictly Come Dancing due to unexpected medical reasons.
“I was truly looking forward to the journey, and I’m deeply sorry to disappoint anyone who was looking forward to seeing me on the dance floor. Thank you all for your support, and I will be back on my feet very soon, in every sense. Love to all, Kristian.”
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