Strictly Come Dancing contestant Shaun Wright-Phillips has spoken about breaking down in tears backstage after his dance-off performance, a moment he described as leaving him feeling "emotionally vulnerable" for the first time in his life. The former England footballer was saved by the judges, while actress Melanie Walters was sent home.
Emotional confession in therapy session
Wright-Phillips, who has received mixed reviews from the judges, discussed the experience during a "Team Hobbits therapy session" on Instagram alongside his professional partner Alexis Warr. He admitted he is not usually a crier.
Recalling the moment after his first dance, he said: "When I walked off after the first dance, I kinda knew where I'd made the errors. But I still thought over the grand scheme of things, as I said to you [Alexis], I was mad satisfied because I actually completed the routine. And then obviously you get the marks and it's a little bit deflating."
Breaking down off air
When asked by Warr what he was thinking as the safe couples were announced, Wright-Phillips explained that he felt they might be in the dance-off. He said: "Getting ready for the dance off, I don't think I drank that much water in that short space of time and it just evaporated. It was all a lot at that point. But then we do the dance off and after the dance off, I don't think I've felt that emotionally vulnerable before in my life."
Warr then revealed that, in a moment off air, Wright-Phillips broke down. She said: "We finished the dance off, we walked backstage and yeah, he just started tearing up and just saying like 'I'm proper emotional'. And I just wanted to give you the biggest hug. It was an emotional moment."
Wright-Phillips admitted he struggled to explain to his relatives why he became so overwhelmed, saying: "Nobody sees me cry, I'm not a crier. If I'm gonna cry or my eyes fill up, it's normally in the privacy of myself."
Judges' decision and public support
In the dance-off, Wright-Phillips and Warr performed a Quickstep to I'm a Believer by The Monkees, while Melanie and her partner Aljaz performed a Charleston to Ooh Ahh... Just A Little Bit by Gina G. Head judge Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Wright-Phillips and Warr, as did Anton Du Beke, who had the deciding vote, ending Melanie's journey on the programme.
Supporters flooded the Instagram comments section to express their backing for Wright-Phillips following his confession. One wrote: "I think you are doing amazing Shaun. It's so incredibly impressive to take on something like dance and give it your absolute all." Another said: "Keep going, doing yourself absolutely proud."
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One on Saturday at 6.30pm.
