Graeme Hall was overcome with emotion after finishing his latest Strictly Come Dancing routine. The 59-year-old dog trainer took to the dancefloor on Saturday (October 10) night alongside his professional partner Lauren Oakley.
They danced a Jive to Reet Petite by Jackie Wilson in a bid to win over the judges and fans watching at home, but minutes after leaving the dancefloor Graeme was overcome with emotion.
Emotional revelation
Speaking to the pair straight after receiving their feedback from the judges, presenter Johannes Radebe asked: "That was a jam-packed Jive but you called it a beast. Why was that?".
Turning to Lauren, he said: "I was scared to death of that on Wednesday, wasn't it?" Lauren agreed: "Yes." Holding back tears, Graeme continued: "I had a bit of a meltdown Wednesday. I didn't think I'd be doing that but we did it."
Reassuring her partner, Lauren said: "You did it. You got through it." She added: "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."
Judges' scores
The pair later received their scores from the judges. Craig Revel-Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas awarded them six points out of 10 and Anton Du Beke gave them seven, making the score 25 out of a possible 40.
Last week, Graeme and Lauren topped the leaderboard scoring 31 points out of 40. They performed a Waltz to The Godfather Waltz from The Godfather for Movie Week. Their performance was highly praised by fans and judges alike, affectionately earning the "Dogfather" presenter a reputation as a genuine ballroom contender.
Despite a minor live production blunder that some viewers noted online, the routine safely advanced them to the next round of the competition.
Personal journey
Joining the show is deeply personal for "The Dogfather". While he previously competed in amateur ballroom and Latin competitions, a stroke in 2019, caused by a hole in his heart, forced him to stop dancing completely. He revealed that he never thought he would be able to dance again.
Upon being announced for the Strictly 2026 line-up, Graeme called the opportunity 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!"
Fans will have to wait and see if Graeme and Lauren have done enough to make it through to Icons Week. Strictly Come Dancing Results airs Sunday, October 11 on BBC One at 7.10pm.
