Strictly Come Dancing contestant Melanie Walters has revealed she intended to pay tribute to Bonnie Tyler during Icons Week, had she progressed further in the competition. The Gavin and Stacey actress and her professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec became the second couple eliminated from this year's series, following Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden.
Dance-off defeat
Melanie and Aljaz performed their Charleston to Ooh Ahh… Just A Little Bit for a second time in the dance-off, facing Shaun Wright-Phillips and his partner Alexis Warr. While judge Motsi Mabuse voted to save Melanie, the other three judges chose Shaun, sending him through to next week's Icons Week.
Speaking on Monday's It Takes Two on October 12, Melanie told presenter Ellie Taylor: “I’m fine, disappointed of course but it is what it is.” She added, referring to Aljaz: “It’s really sad that I don’t spend any more time with this lovely man, and it’s been a blast, all of it, so yes it’s sad that it’s not going to continue.”
Reflecting on the competition
Discussing the dance-off, she said: “It would have been really difficult going against any of them, we bonded so well. We all really, really have, and it would have been hard doing it with any other couple.” She also remarked: “This third week was the best week. The first week, the Cha Cha, it was all very unknown and everything like that, the second week was very emotional for me, but the third week was a joy from beginning to end.”
Melanie also shared her disappointment at missing the chance to honour Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler during Icons Week. She said: “I would really have liked to have been in for this week for Icons week, we were going to do the Tango, and my icon was Bonnie Tyler. Sadly missed, and gone too soon… she was a neighbour of mine!”
Aljaz's tribute
On It Takes Two, Aljaz paid tribute to Melanie, saying: “It’s difficult to put into words how proud I am of Melanie. From day one in rehearsals…. I’m immensely proud, if anyone could see Melanie on day one in rehearsals, how nervous and cautious, and then to see you go out in the first Cha Cha week, then Waltz, then this Charleston, the progress every single week was incredible.”
He continued: “As a teacher, all you want is a student that puts in the work, puts in the effort, but you were just probably the best one I’ve had. You were so analytical, so respectful to our craft, and that’s beautiful.” He added: “No words can make it right, or will really say enough. I know for a fact, we always say we’re going to be friends forever… I want you in my life, I want us to be friends and to call each other because I feel like you put a smile on my face every single day and we all need people like that in our lives. You really are one of a kind and I know you’re going to smash whatever you do, and I’m going to be your number one fan.”
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two airs weeknights from 6.30pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.
