Tearful Strictly Come Dancing fans have commended Jayde Adams as "inspirational" after she shared an emotional tribute to her late sister. The Bristol comedian performed the American smooth on tonight's show (Saturday, October 15) and dedicated it to Jenna, who died 11 years ago.
In rehearsals she explained her song choice, Wind Beneath My Wings. She said: "Bette Midler was mine and my sister Jenna's most favourite musician when we were growing up. We used to have CDs of Bette all over the house and we'd make up dances to Bette in our parents' living room.
"The lyrics to the song really resonate. She [Jenna] was two years older than me, and she died 11 years ago."
Read more: Ten years on - why our Jayde moved back to Bristol
The comedian wiped away a tear from behind her glasses and asked for a second to compose herself, as she recalled some of their most cherished childhood memories in front of the camera crew. She said: "I didn't just lose my sister, I lost my best friend, I lost my dance partner.
"Her telling me to make everyone laugh was my calling. When my sister said 'that's what you are here to do now' I just knew what my place was in the world.
"This song in particular is very special to me and my family and I really hope that I can do it justice this week." She and dance partner Karen Hauer danced the American smooth, and judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas were on their feet applauding as the routine came to an end.
Motsi said: "Thank you very very much for sharing your story and sharing your sister with us, I think she would be so proud of you. It was beautiful to see, beautiful to watch. Today you changed the mood and it was beautiful - a side to you I really loved."
A choked-up Shirley said: "Jayde, I think you are my hero...you've represented this number with everybody who's lost a loved one, I'm really emotional.
"I think your sister will be proud of you."
Judge Anton du Beke said the dance was "powerfully presented" and created a "beautiful moment", while even Craig Revel Horwood - following a critique of some of the technical elements - hailed it "full of grace, elegance and really beautiful to watch".
While waiting for the scores afterwards, Jayde tearfully told host Claudia Winkleman about a comment Jenna made to her mum before she died: "She said, 'do you think people will forget me?' And you've just said her name, on this [Strictly], it's incredible.
"It's amazing, I'm so lucky that I get to do this because so many people lose people, and grief is so difficult and so personal. To be able to keep the promise that we made her, that we wouldn't let people forget her, is the most incredible gift that anyone could ever give me or my family."
Jenna died in April 2011, a few years after being diagnosed with a high-grade brain tumour. She was just 26 at the time and the diagnosis came out of the blue. The treatment continued, and it was around Jenna’s hospital bed that Jayde learned she should be a stand-up comedian - encouraged by Jenna.
In 2021, Jayde told Bristol Live: "When she was diagnosed, she grabbed my hand and said: ‘can you keep making everyone laugh, Jayde? Lighten it up a bit’, and that sort of became my job as she was going through the treatment.”
"It always sounds trite when I say it like this, but it’s true. It was around my sister’s deathbed where I was making everyone laugh, that I knew that I should be a comedian."
Viewers flooded social media to commend her on speaking out on the show about her loss and grief. One Strictly fan tweeted: "Anyone else in floods of tears after @jaydeadams talked about her Jenna?
"Will anyone remember me, is a question that goes through my mind with my heart condition, too. I felt a tiny bit of your pain in that dance, Jayde, I’m sorry we can’t comfort you more than voting for you."
Another tweeted: "@jaydeadams is beyond amazing, inspirational, graceful & gorgeous!! Looking like Elsa from Frozen too tonight. #WindBeneathMyWings is a special song to me too so thank you for your story, your dance&your partnership with Karen."
Read next:
- Strictly Come Dancing star Will Mellor 'bedbound' and doubt for tonight's show
- Strictly Come Dancing's Jayde Adams hopes to make women 'more confident'
- Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood set to juggle the ballroom with Bristol panto
- Strictly Come Dancing's Jayde Adams thanks 'nice people' for checking in on her after being trolled by bodyshamers
- Strictly Come Dancing: Jayde Adams' partner Karen Hauer tells her to 'go away' in hilarious video
