IT’S been a case of sickness on the dance floor for Strictly Come Dancing hopeful Denise Van Outen this week.

Basildon girl and former Big Breakfast presenter Denise, 38, as well as other stars of the show, have been floored by flu with some forced to waltz off to bed recover.

One other star who has fallen ill is Dani Harmer, 23, who is most well known for her role in children’s television show The Story of Tracy Beaker.

She said she caught the bug from her dance partner Vincent Simone, 33.

It’s far from ideal preparation for the celebrities and their professional partners who have just a week left until the first live show, and the outbreak means producers are up against it to get contestants ready to perform on Saturday, October 5.

Denise took to Twitter on Sunday, September 23 to vent her frustrations about feeling under the weather.

She said: “I’ve got a stinking cold. GRRRRRRR!!”

But she seemed to be back on form  today, Wednesday, and excited about training with her partner James Jordan. She tweeted: “Had a **** day yesterday. Woke up this morning and I’ve got my shizzle back. #ayeaye!”