Strictly's Will Mellor tearful after dedicating dance to late father

Strictly Come Dancing’s Will Mellor chokes back tears after dancing an emotional Waltz to his late father Bill’s favourite song

Strictly Come Dancing’s Will Mellor struggled to fight back the tears on Saturday night as he and Nancy Xu danced to his late father’s favourite song.  

The Four Pints of Lager actor, 46 lost his dad Bill suddenly in 2020 – just two weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer.

And after performing a Waltz to Three Times a Lady by Lionel Richie and the Commodores, which was dedicated to his parent, Will was overcome with emotion. 

Emotional: Strictly Come Dancing’s Will Mellor struggled to fight back the tears on Saturday night as he and Nancy Xu danced to his late father’s favourite song

In his VT, Will, explained: ‘It’s a song that my dad used to sing to my mum. This dance is two people moving as one, two hearts beating as one, that’s what we want.

He was also seen video-calling his mother as she urged him to ‘hold it together’ and noted that they’d ‘been trough some tough times’.

Will told his mother: ‘Hopefully with this dance I can pay my respects to dad.’

The star and Nancy then wowed with a stunning routine and as the dance ended, Will stood looking up at the ceiling with his arms held wide, as she struggled to hold back his tears. 

Loss: The Four Pints of Lager actor, 46 lost his dad Bill suddenly in 2020 – just two weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer

He then joined host Tess Daly to get the feedback from the judges with Will visibly upset and battling not to cry.  

Commenting on the performance, Motsi Mabuse remarked: ‘Wow. Will that was absolutely beautiful. In every essence of the word beauty that’s what it is.

‘Music, together, timeless, feeling, message, performance… what more do you want? I don’t know – beautiful!’

While head judge Shirley Ballas shared: ‘Well dancing is one thing, but after watching your VT and that beautiful relationship you have with your mum, is just amazing – it makes me miss my own son.’ 

Routine: And after performing a Waltz to Three Times a Lady by Lionel Richie and the Commodores, which was dedicated to his parent, Will was overcome with emotion.

Wow: Wil and Nancy put their all into the emotional routine

She went on to praise several elements of the performance, pointing out that his ‘footwork was fantastic!’  

Anton Du Beke added that the dance was ‘immaculate’, saying that it was the ‘epitome’ of two bodies dancing as one to music.

While Craig Revel Horwood noted that it ‘lacked a little bit of swing and sway’, before adding ‘that really is nothing to how you told that story. You really done your family enormously proud. 

Will and Nancy then joined Claudia Winkleman upstairs, where the actor once again struggled with his emotions and was seen wiping away a tear.

Interview: In his VT, Will, explained: ‘It’s a song that my dad used to sing to my mum. This dance is two people moving as one, two hearts beating as one, that’s what we want

Chat: He was also seen video-calling his mother as she urged him to ‘hold it together’ and noted that they’d ‘been trough some tough times’

Powerful: The star and Nancy then wowed with a stunning routine and as the dance ended, Will stood looking up at the ceiling with his arms held wide, as she struggled to hold back his tears

Nancy then emotionally added of her partner: ‘I think he did amazing and when we’re talking this dance, we’re not just dancing for this moment, we want to dedicate this dance to anyone who lost their loved ones and didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.’ 

Watching the scenes unfold, viewers at home took to Twitter to share that seeing Will upset made them emotional too. 

‘My God I just want to jump through the screen and hug Will he’s trying so hard to keep it together’ commented one person.

While another shared: ‘Will is so emotional. He is making me emotional.’

Struggling: He then joined host Tess Daly to get the feedback from the judges with Will visibly upset and battling not to cry

Touched: Will and Nancy then joined Claudia Winkleman upstairs, where the actor once again struggled with his emotions and was seen wiping away a tear.

Good result: Will and Nancy earned an incredible points from the judges

A third said: ‘Me: I am uninterested in why your song is special to you, celeb, just dance please Also me: *weeping at Will’s waltz like it’s Mufasa dying in the Lion King*’

‘Your Dad would be so proud of you Will. I’m so emotional right now. Such a beautiful dance’ commented a fourth watcher.

With a fifth adding: ‘Oh Will. That was beautiful. Anyone else in tears?’

It comes after Will revealed earlier this week that he had been in tears after learning the dance routine to one of his late father’s favourite songs. 

Reaction: Watching the scenes unfold, viewers at home took to Twitter to share that seeing Will upset made them emotional too

Will appeared with his professional dance partner Nancy Xu on Loose Women on Thursday and admitted he has been struggling to get through rehearsals. 

He said: ‘This week, I’m dancing to one of my dad’s fave songs. It’s hard, I phoned my mum, I couldn’t get through routine without crying.

‘We lost time on Monday because I couldn’t concentrate.’

He continued: ‘I want to do it right as I want to celebrate him. He’s one of reasons I’m doing Strictly. I want to embrace life and go for it.’

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.55pm on ITV.  

‘I couldn’t do the routine without crying’: It comes after Will revealed earlier this week that he had been in tears after learning the dance routine to one of his late father’s favourite songs

Tough: He said: ‘This week, I’m dancing to one of my dad’s fave songs. It’s hard, I phoned my mum, I couldn’t get through routine without crying’ 

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