Lithuanian dance champion Iveta Lukosiute has been drafted in to Strictly Come Dancing as a temporary partner for Johnny Ball after Aliona Vilani fractured her ankle during rehearsals. The 32-year-old - who is the current world champion in ten styles of ballroom, and who also appeared on the US version of So You Think You Can Dance - will take to the floor with the veteran TV presenter when the series kicks off next weekend. And Iveta said she was thrilled when approached by the BBC to join the show on a temporary basis. "I am super excited to come to the UK and join the Strictly Come Dancing team," she said. "Dance is my life and there is no greater pleasure than sharing that passion with the rest of the world." She added that she had been in New York on a rainy day when the request from the BBC came, adding, "I only saw the sunshine after I got the phone call from the BBC." Aliona could be out of action for up to a month as a result of her injury, which reportedly occurred while she and Johnny became entangled while practising a tango move. The 28-year-old Kazakh dancer - who is the reigning professional champion after her 2011 victory with Harry Judd - has been keeping her Twitter followers updated on her progress, regularly posting photos of her injury on the site including one of her leg strapped into a boot to help it mend.
