Carlos Gu has spoken of his heartbreak after being part of the first dance-off of Strictly Come Dancing's 2026 series, a result that sent his best friend Amy Dowden and her celebrity partner Chris Appleton out of the competition.
Fans of the BBC One show called the outcome 'cruel' as they watched the first results show of the series on Sunday, October 4, following Saturday night's live show, which marked Movie Week earlier than ever before.
Movie Week dance-off
The first special of the year saw the couples perform their second routines of the 2026 series. Their week one and week two scores were combined with the public vote to decide the two lowest-scoring couples, who then faced the dance-off.
After their routines in the first two weeks failed to impress the judges, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and his professional partner Amy Dowden left the show. They were defeated in the dance-off by actress Jaime Winstone and her partner Carlos, who won last year's show with former footballer Karen Carney.
Both couples performed their routines again. Chris and Amy danced a cha cha to "I'll Be Ready" from Baywatch, while Jaime and Carlos performed the same dance to "Oh, Pretty Woman" from Pretty Woman.
Judges' decision
Judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all chose to save Jaime and Carlos. Craig Revel Horwood, who had the deciding vote this week, said he would have saved the same couple if he had needed to vote.
Carlos has since taken to Instagram to comment on Chris and Amy's departure. Sharing Amy's emotional post about the end of her time on the show, he wrote on his Instagram Story: "My heart is broken!!! To my sister from another mother @amy_dowden, to @chrisappleston1, I wish people could [have] had more chance to see what a beautiful human you are!"
Amy's tribute
Amy also shared a string of photos of herself and Chris on Instagram, writing: "@chrisappleton1 [heart emojis] I honestly don't think words can quite describe how proud I am of you. Seeing your Strictly journey come to an end is emotional, but what I'll treasure most isn't the result, it's the friendship, memories and special moments we've shared along the way."
She continued: "I know, unfortunately, only too well heartbreak. But I also know that the reason it hurts so much is because of the friendship and bond we've formed and that's something that isn't going anywhere. From the nerves, the laughter and the endless rehearsals to the moments when things felt tough, you gave everything you had. You showed such heart, determination and kindness, and it has been an absolute privilege to share this journey with you. Strictly may have brought us together as partners, but I truly believe it has given me a friend for life. Our dancing journey may have ended, but our friendship certainly hasn't."
She rounded off her post: "Chris, you should be incredibly proud of yourself. Thank you for every laugh, every memory, every hug and for simply being you. I'll be cheering you on every step of the way. Love you, my friend. Love your Welsh princess, as you call me."
