Strictly Come Dancing stars Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden have given their first interview since being eliminated from the show.
Over the weekend, the pair lost out in the first dance-off of the series, after winding up in the bottom two with Jaime Winstone and her professional partner Carlos Gu.
Long-serving Strictly pro Amy – who was also the first dancer to be given the boot last year – told companion show It Takes Two that she was “gutted” about the way things had played out.
“From the first day to dancing on Saturday night, [Chris] grew and grew and grew [in confidence] and I’m just gutted that we didn’t get the chance to continue,” she shared.
An emotional Chris – who has already praised Amy for helping him feel less “terrified” about dancing in public – also recalled: “I’d literally go out there shaking and there’s times I didn’t know if I could do it but I did it and I would just look at Amy and see her smiling and knew she was with me.”
After their elimination was confirmed in Sunday night’s results show, Amy told Strictly host Emma Willis: “Obviously, I’m heartbroken, it seems to be my luck the last few years. But my heart is only breaking because I don’t get to dance with [Chris] on Monday.
“But, I get a friend for life, and that’s what’s going to heal my broken heart.”
She later wrote on Instagram: “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.
“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.”
“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 told the celebrity hairstylist.
Chris wrote back: “I love you Amy. Getting to know you was the greatest gift.
“Thank you for being more than I could have ever wished for in a dance partner because you became a friend for life.
“Keep shining, keep smiling and keep showing everyone [your] talent [and] your heart because you are one of one my friend.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday night at 6.15pm on BBC One.
