Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Katya Jones paid an emotional tribute to her partner Tony Adams as the pair were forced to pull out of the show on Sunday evening.
The dance off on Sunday night did not go ahead, with Tyler West and Dianne Buswell going straight through to next week’s show as a result.
Host Tess Daly explained Tony would be leaving the BBC One show due to an injury sustained on Saturday night.
She told viewers: “Tony is unable to take part in the dance off and has decided to withdraw from the competition. This means there will be no dance off tonight and Tyler and Dianne are through to Blackpool.”
Tony’s professional dance partner Katya was then asked if she had any words for him and she said: “Tony Adams, I will be forever grateful that I was partnered up with you, do you know what I loved? I loved us."
She added: "I loved that we didn’t care what people thought, we did every single dance our way!"
However, as she continued, Tony butt in before Katya said: "And yet again, interrupting me when I was talking," as he then wrapped an arm around her.
She added: "You have come here with a message, you led by example, and put yourself out there, and showed everyone you can do anything. And everyone deserves love and to be loved! I love you.”
When asked by Tess about his time on the show, Tony said: “It’s been emotional guys, I cried for the first month. I came in here with one message, if you’ve got an issue with mental health then please don’t suffer in silence and reach out for help.
“Little did I know that I was going to learn a lot about myself in the process. I thought this ‘journey’ rubbish was nonsense, but my god the rollercoaster of emotion.
"I’ve got to be honest, it’s tough, physically it’s really tough out there, but dancing is really fantastic for you. “Go out there and enjoy it and pick up new skills and explore. I suppose I had better mention this one [Katya] hadn’t I, she is an exceptional human being, she really is.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas congratulated the former football star on ‘giving us 100% of your heart’.
She said: “You have grown week after week after week, you have become one of the nation’s favourite entertainers.
“On behalf of the judges, we’ve enjoyed watching every second, you are truly what this show is all about, and we can only wish you the very best as you move forward.
“Please carry on dancing, carry on entertaining people, because you are a star. Well done.”
Strictly Come Dancing returns next weekend on BBC One.
