Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden said this year's series has 'finished too soon' after she and celebrity partner Chris Appleton became the first couple voted off the competition. The pair were eliminated during the first results show of the series.
The BBC One show returned on Saturday night (October 3) for Movie Week, with 15 couples performing film-themed dances. Sunday's show marked the first results show of the season, combining scores from weeks one and two with the public vote ahead of the first dance-off and elimination.
Dance-off defeat
Celebrity hairstylist Chris and pro partner Amy faced Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu in the dance-off. Both couples performed their routines again: Chris and Amy danced their Cha Cha to I'll Be Ready from Baywatch, while Jaime and reigning champion Carlos performed their Cha Cha to Oh, Pretty Woman from Pretty Woman. The judges all chose to save Jaime and Carlos.
Emotional reaction
The couple's reaction was shown on the first episode of Strictly: Lights Up, hosted by Abi Clarke and Tyler West, available on iPlayer as the show ended. When Tyler asked Chris how he was feeling, he responded "I'm OK", before his mum came over to hug him. Chris told Tyler: "It's like a dream. There is this thing when you get nervous, your mind goes blank, you know the steps, you go over and over, then you come out here and it fades away. The show is about having confidence, controlling the nerves and coming out here to deliver."
Amy then hugged Chris and said "It's finished too soon", adding: "I'm so proud of Chris, seeing him grow as dancer but also as a person and his confidence. Chris needs to believe in himself like I believe in him. It was too short-lived."
Judges' verdict
Tyler said: "It's absolutely heartbreaking seeing someone leave the competition and it is one of the most difficult decisions in the whole entire world." Abi asked the judges if the decision was easy. Anton said: "It was really. I didn't think there was much in it. I thought Jaime and Carlos were really strong, everything they didn't do on Saturday night they did in the dance off and were less hesitant, more powerful. Chris still looked nervous. I just felt he was always slightly on edge and any second it could go wrong."
Chris and Amy will join Ellie Taylor on Strictly - It Takes Two on Monday (October 5) at 6:30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
