DANCE star Perri Kiely is battling against illness to be fit for Saturday's final of ITV’s diving show Splash!

The pint sized 18-year-old, from South Ockendon, missed training today after falling ill. He’s one of the favourites to win the celebrity show.

A show insider said he had "a sickness bug" but was confident he would make the final. They said: "He's been a real star this series and is desperate not to let his fans down."

Perri has been wowing judges in previous rounds. In his semi-final two weeks ago, he scored 27.5 out of 30 in one of his two dives – the highest of the night.

Olympic medalist and co-host Tom Daley has already stated he thinks Perri is the “stand-out performer” in the series.

Perri will be up against Boyzone member Keith Duffy, Towie star Dan Osborne and Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead in Saturday tomorrow nights final.