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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Katie Fitzpatrick

Kym Marsh in tears after BBC Strictly dance in memory of late son as Graziano's sweet message picked up by microphone

Courageous former Coronation Street star Kym Marsh was in tears after performing an emotional dance in memory of her late son Archie. Kym went through the devastating loss of baby Archie, with her ex husband Jamie Lomas, in 2009 at 21 weeks of pregnancy.

The actress won huge praise for the harrowing Corrie storyline in 2017 which saw her character Michelle Connor go through the devastating loss of her baby Ruairi at 23 weeks after suffering a similar heartbreak in real life. During Saturday's live Strictly, a tearful Kym dedicated their American Smooth Foxtrot to the Snow Patrol ballad Chasing Cars to Archie, who died shortly after his birth in 2009.

The song was also close to her pro dance partner Graziano Di Prima's heart as he performed it for his twin brother Stefano who died at birth. The pair scored an impressive 31 points out of 40 from the judges.

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"It might get people talking about their experience," said Kym ahead of their dance. "It's the right road to putting your life back together."

After their tear-jerking dance ended, Graziano could be heard saying Kym's performance was "beautiful" as they shared a hug. However, it was picked up by judge Craig Revel Horwood that Kym, who was supported in the studio audience by her husband Scott Ratcliff and parents David and Pauline, has used the wrong leg during a lift.

The pair shared a supportive hug after their dance (BBC)

Motsi Mabuse said that although she had felt the "vulnerability" in the dance, she noted a "change of energy" and asked if nerves were responsible. "We all really apprecisted the dance, it was a beautiful dance," she added.

Later as they climbed the stairs and reflected on their dance with host Claudia Winkleman, Kym admitted: "I made some silly mistakes but it was whole emotion of the evening that got to me." And Graziano reassured: "You were brilliant. I'm so proud of you."

She turned to her dance partner for a hug and wiped away tears. Claudia told her: "I'm sorry you're sad." Last month Kym spoke out to mark Baby Loss Awareness Day in memory of her beloved son.

Kym was emotional (BBC)

Taking to Instagram Kym, 46, said her family would be lighting a candle tonight for all babies 'taken too soon.' She penned: "Today is babyloss awareness day. Today is a day to get people talking, and to remember all of our babies that were taken too soon. I am a mother who lost her child. I am one in 4.

"We are a family who lost a piece of us. I know that pain and I also know how important it is to talk, to listen, to share. Tonight at 7pm we will light a candle for all of those precious babies who were taken too soon. They will never be forgotten and in their names we will continue to make change."

And she added in a heartfelt message to her son: "Archie, I promise to always do you proud. In our hearts and our voices your name and memory will live on. We love you always and forever."

The Morning Live presenter has two daughters Emilie, 25, and Polly, 11 and a son David, 27. Kym, who played Michelle in the soap from 2006 to 2019, previously told how she feared she might also lose Polly after the tragic loss of Archie.

Emilie was the only child who she carried to full term pregnancy after eldest child David, who was born six weeks early. She previously told how, a year after Archie died, she felt 'brave enough' to try for another baby and was placed under the care of St Mary’s, Manchester’s specialist centre for obstetrics and neonatal care when she became pregnant with Polly.

Kym says she was 'absolutely terrified' to discover she had a condition that meant there was a strong possibility that she could go into premature labour again. She went on to give birth to her “little fighter and miracle” Polly in March 2011 following 33 weeks of pregnancy, weighing 4lbs 1oz.

Kym is also a grandmother of three. Emilie has a three-year-old son Teddy with her partner Mikey Hoszowskyj, who they welcomed in May 2019. And in August Kym announced David and his fiancée Courtney had welcomed a baby boy, named Clayton Lenny David Cunliffe.

She is also a doting grandmother to Mikey's daughter, also named Polly. In March she proudly shared a picture to mark the little girl's sixth birthday and said: "Happy 6th birthday to our beautiful granddaughter Polly. What a little ray of sunshine you really are! Funny and sassy, sweet and kind and the best big sister to Teddy!"

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