Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden broke down in tears as she and James Bye appeared on spin-off show It Takes Two. The pair became the fifth couple to be eliminated from the BBC One dance contest over the weekend.
EastEnders star James ended up under a red light after his Charleston to Bumble Bee by LaVern Baker. The actor, who plays Martin Fowler in the BBC One soap, and Welsh professional dancer Amy found themselves in the dreaded dance-off against singer and broadcaster Fleur East.
For the annual Strictly special, James was dressed as a beekeeper while Amy performed while dressed as a bee. And despite pulling off a lift he had not been able to nail during his dress run, James placed bottom of the scoreboard and had to re-perform the routine in the dance-off.
After both James and Amy, plus Fleur and her dance partner Vito Coppola, danced again, the judges unanimously voted to save Fleur and Vito, meaning James had to emotionally say his goodbyes.
Speaking for the first time about being in the dance-off, James told It Takes Two host Rylan Clark on Monday evening (October 31): "It’s never a nice place to be of course, but there is only so much control you have, all you can do is go out and give it your best and hope you don’t mess up.
"The standard is getting better and better, and some dances you will excel at, the quickstep felt like it was one of my dances, but for whatever reason the judge didn’t feel like the Charleston was one of my stronger dances and that’s just the game. We did our best, and I am happy to leave the competition in those circumstances. We had the best time, and we danced it as well as we could have danced it, and Fleur is incredible!"
It was the first time James had been in the dance-off and he didn't hold back on how the experience felt. "It’s up there with one of the worst experiences of my life, especially being up against Fleur," he admitted on the BBC2 spin-off show.
"She knows what she is doing, she is very good, and I love her to bits, it’s horrible competing with someone who I’ve got close with and I know is a lovely person, and I knew I was going to go!"
Reflecting on his entire Strictly journey after being shown some of his best bits, James said "I can’t believe how much we’ve done, its shot by. I’ve had such an amazing time." He then turned to his dance partner and his comments left Amy in tears.
"Amy is what Strictly is all about," James started and it wasn't long before Amy was grabbing the sparkly box of tissues from behind the cushions.
"I have never worked with anyone, in any line of work I have ever had, who loves their job as much as she does. She is absolutely obsessed with this show, she gives it every part of her body, she will be in my life forever, and she is what Strictly is about and they are lucky to have her."
Breaking his silence on his exit on Monday in a video posted on Instagram, James was full of praise for Amy who he said was "amazing from the outset." He said the pair got on from the get-go and added: "She made this Strictly journey what it was for me. Without her, I definitely wouldn't have been able to enjoy it as much as I did."
He said they'll "stay in touch forever" because the Welsh professional dancer is "an absolutely blinder." James ended his post by thanking his fans and supporters again, saying he had the "best time".
And the comments soon came flooding in, starting with one from the official EastEnders account. Their message said: " You’re still the winner in our eyes @jimmybye!" Kym Marsh wrote: "What a guy! Miss you already." Responding to the post filmed in James' family kitchen, Helen Skelton replied: "Same kitchen colour as me and obviously, we miss you etc."
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