Strictly Come Dancing star James Bye has opened up about his exit from the BBC ballroom dancing competition in his first interview since he became the fifth celebrity eliminated from the competition.
The star sat down with his professional partner Amy Dowden on the It Takes Two sofa with host Rylan Clarke, after he was reduced to tears during his Sunday exit.
James saw his first and last dance-off as he went head to head with Fleur East, after which all four judges decided to save the X Factor alum.
Host Rylan asked James about what was going through his mind when the Strictly lights went red on him and he was confirmed for the dance-off.
He said: “It’s up there with one of the worst experiences of my life, especially when you know you’ve got to go against Fleur East.
“She knows what she’s doing. She’s very, very good and I love her to bits. It's horrible to then feel like I’m competing with someone who I’ve got really close with, who I know is such a lovely person and I know I’m going to go.”
The EastEnders star then went on to praise his professional dance partner Amy as ‘what Strictly is all about’.
He said: “I have never worked with anybody in any line of work I’ve ever had who loves their job as much as Amy does. She is absolutely obsessed with it.”
The dance pro then started to tear up beside him as he waxed lyrical and put his arm around her shoulders.
She reached for the box of tissues in the studio as he continued: “She gives this show every part of her body. She is such a lovely human being. She will be in my life forever.
“This is what Strictly is about and they are lucky to have her.”
The emotional moment came after James broke down in tears on Sunday in front of host Tess Daly after she said his young sons would be proud of him.
Standing alongside Amy, Tess reminded the actor of his initial priorities for competing in the show: to have fun and to make his three sons proud.
Immediately emotional, James replied: “Don't tell me that Tess,” as she insisted: “I think it's safe to say you've done that. You really have.”
James put his hands to his eyes, as he said: “Don't say that,” and Tess apologised at having made the star emotional.
Turning to his partner Amy, she told Tess: “I'm so proud of you James. You came on here to show your boys they can throw themselves into any challenge in life.”
Jokingly flippant, the soap star then replied: “What did I just say? I said don't bring the boys up.”
Amy insisted: “You're the best role model they could ever have as their dad. Honestly, I'm so proud. We've had so much fun.”
