Soap star Will Mellor has become the next celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing, just days before series finale.
The Coronation Street actor battled it out against X-Factor star Fleur East in a tense dance-off during the semi-finals results show after receiving the fewest votes from the public. Will, 43, has spoken candidly about how his time on the show has helped him and his mum Shirley process the grief of losing his dad in 2020.
On Sunday nights live show, the remaining five couples all performed two routines in a bid to impress viewers as well as the judging panel - Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas. The judges awarded 74 to Fleur, and 70 points to Hollyoaks actor Will leaving him bottom of the leader board on Sunday.
When asked for his final words, Mellor said: “I have to thank you all for giving me this chance to put a smile on my mum’s face, she deserves it. I’ll take whatever I have learnt from this show forward in whatever I do because it shows you can achieve more than you think.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to get anywhere near this and I am so proud of what we have achieved but also everybody who has voted for me, who has supported me, the messages I’ve had from my local community and children.”
Will previously said he wanted the glitterball trophy so his mother, who he shares a close relationship with, could proudly display it on her mantelpiece. His professional dance partner Nancy Xu also said during Monday’s show: “I really wish I could make more memories with you and your family.”
To save himself, Will and Nancy danced a couples’ choice to a 90s Manchester-inspired medley but did not win favour with the judges.
Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas all opted for East and her partner Vito Coppola, who performed the Charleston to Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano by Fiorello.
Anton Du Beke, who was the only judge who chose to save Will, said “both danced terrifically” but he had to go with the “details”. He added: “Due to an error in a dismount from a lift, I am going to have to save Will and Nancy.”
Motsi Mabuse said the “details” led her to choose East while Craig Revel Horwood also said the Sax singer was the “most impressive”.
Head judge Shirley Ballas said she knows the public have gone a different way than the judges but due to the “micro details” she also opted for East, calling it the “most difficult decision” she has made in the competition so far.
Viewers of the show were in for a treat as Lewis Capaldi performed his latest single Pointless, whilst Strictly pros Giovanni Pernice and Katya Jones performed a stunning routine.
The remaining four couples – East and Coppola, Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal, Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu, Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez – will take to the dancefloor next week for the final.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday at 7.15pm, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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