Graeme Hall fought back tears during the latest live recording of Strictly Come Dancing. The 59-year-old dog trainer returned to the dancefloor on Saturday (October 10) evening with his professional partner Lauren Oakley.
The duo performed a Jive to Reet Petite by Jackie Wilson in an attempt to impress the judges and viewers at home, but he became visibly emotional moments after his routine finished.
Emotional moment after routine
Addressing the couple immediately after they received their critique from the judges, host Johannes Radebe enquired: "That was a jam-packed Jive but you called it a beast. Why was that?". Looking towards Lauren, Graeme responded: "I was scared to death of that on Wednesday, wasn't I?" with the dancer agreeing.
Fighting back tears, Graeme went on: "I had a bit of a meltdown Wednesday. I didn't think I'd be doing that but we did it."
Partner's encouragement
Offering encouragement to her partner, Lauren remarked: "You did it. You got through it." She continued: "I've challenged him this week. It was tough at times but I can see we'll learn from it and we'll move forward. You've kind of fought through this week and you've been amazing so thank you."
The duo subsequently received their marks from the judging panel. Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas awarded them six points out of 10 while Anton Du Beke gave them seven, bringing the total to 25 out of a possible 40.
Previous success and personal journey
Graeme and Lauren led the leaderboard last weekend with 31 points out of 40. They delivered a Waltz to The Godfather Waltz from The Godfather during Movie Week. Their performance received widespread acclaim from both fans and judges, with the "Dogfather" presenter affectionately establishing himself as a serious ballroom competitor.
Despite a small live production error that certain viewers highlighted online, the routine successfully secured their progression to the competition's next stage.
Participating in the programme holds profound significance for "The Dogfather". While he had previously taken part in amateur ballroom and Latin contests, a stroke in 2019, triggered by a hole in his heart, compelled him to abandon dancing entirely. He disclosed that he had never imagined he would dance again.
Following his announcement for the Strictly 2026 line-up, Graeme described the opportunity as a "dream come true" and an "exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking." At the time, he said: "I can't believe I am joining the cast of Strictly for 2026. I have always loved dancing, so to have the opportunity to learn from the best in the business is a dream come true. I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking! I can't wait to get started. Bring it on!"
Viewers will need to wait and discover whether Graeme and Lauren have performed sufficiently to progress to Icons Week. Strictly Come Dancing Results airs Sunday, October 11 on BBC One at 7.10pm.
