Will Mellor and Nancy Xu appeared on It Takes Two on Monday, December 12 following their exit from Strictly Come Dancing during the semi-finals. The pair missed out on the final after losing to Fleur East and Vita Coppola in the dreaded dance-off.
Their exit means Fleur and Vita, Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez, Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał, and Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu are this year's finalists. You can read more about the final four on Strictly 2022 here.
Following the semi-final results show, which aired on Monday due to the Qatar World Cup, Will and Nancy appeared alongside It Takes Two presenter Rylan Clark to discuss their journey. The pair were emotional during the chat, with the host even pausing at one point to give Nancy a second.
Read more: Strictly semi-final labelled 'all kinds of wrong' as BBC viewers complain over change
Speaking about the judges' comments, Will said he'd been "too harsh on himself," as Rylan pointed out he looked disheartened by the comments. The actor explained: "I am just human, everyone who meets me gets to meet me, I don't have another person I can put on.
"I was disappointed, I'd worked so hard and we'd got so far in the competition, the last thing I wanted to do was get it wrong that night. From what the judges said, I beat myself up, and I've watched it back and I was too harsh on myself. I have always said what I really care most about, is making sure this lady next to me is happy, if she is happy, I am happy."
Nancy said: "I think people have different opinions, and a different way to look at a dance. For me, he did everything I asked him to do, the passion, the drama, everything. He did me so proud, for me, I will give him as many 10s as I have!"
Will said he thought the pair would be in trouble after falling to the bottom of the leaderboard, but was still gutted to be in the dance-off for the first time. "I just really wanted to get to the final, so I could say I'd completed it," he said. "I really wanted to get this girl there, she really deserves it, she has given me everything I could ask for, I wouldn't of got through week one without her."
Nancy then added: "I felt awful, I can't lie, for me he did me so proud. He did everything I asked him to do, we have had so much fun. This week I travelled with him to see where he grew up, it's been such an amazing journey."
The pair were then shown their Strictly journey, which left them both in tears. Pausing the interview, Rylan said: "Guys it's been so lovely watching your journey, I can see clearly how emotional you both are, Nance I want to give you a second."
Rylan then played a clip of Will's wife and children sharing their pride for him before the interview returned to the studio, where Rylan asked: "Nancy I can see how heartbroken you are, but is there anything you can or want to say to Will."
She responded through tears: "I am so grateful, thank you. I have had the best journey, I could have ever imagined. I looked forward every day to step into that dance studio to teach him a new dance and see his face, to see him not believe in himself and question himself, and then slowly he would enjoy it and on Saturday night he would have a smile on his face! Thank you so much."
Will added: "I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else. It's been an unbelievable ride, we've made some amazing moments we can look back on. Thanks so much to Strictly for giving me the memories for my mum, my family, my sisters, my kids, and my wife Michelle who has been by my side every time I come home moaning and aching, and she is running my baths.
"Without her it would have been really tough, and without this lady next to me, I wouldn’t of got anywhere near this, so thank you for the memories. I am going to take from this, you can do things and test yourself, and take yourself out your comfort zone every now and then, and you can achieve more than you think you can." For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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