Strictly Come Dancing star James Bye broke down in tears after Tess Daly "made him cry" after saying his young sons were proud of him.
Fans were left emotional after the EastEnders actor became the fifth star to be eliminated from the show.
Host Tess Daly congratulated James on his run on the BBC One show after he lost out in the dreaded dance-off to Fleur East.
Standing alongside his partner Amy Dowden, Tess reminded the actor of his initial priorities for competing in the show: to have fun and to make his three sons proud.
Immediately emotional, James replied: “Don't tell me that Tess,” as she insisted: “I think it's safe to say you've done that. You really have.”
James put his hands to his eyes, as he said: “Don't say that,” and Tess apologised at having made the star emotional.
Turning to his partner Amy, she told Tess: “I'm so proud of you James. You came on here to show your boys they can throw themselves into any challenge in life.”
Jokingly flippant, the soap star then replied: “What did I just say? I said don't bring the boys up.”
Amy insisted: “You're the best role model they could ever have as their dad. Honestly, I'm so proud. We've had so much fun.”
Strictly fans were quick to take to Twitter as soon as James started shedding tears at his exit, with one writing: “Now I'm crying. Poor James. Deserved better.”
Another added: “Oh Tess Daly just shut up you are all someone leaving needs …feel for James it was a c*** routine Strictly."
One viewer added: "Does Tess deliberately try to make the losing celebrity cry?"
When asked by Tess about his time on the show, James said: “I’ve said this from the very beginning, all I can do is go out there and do my very best. I am dancing against Fleur East, I went and did my best but she is phenomenal.
“I’ve had the best time on this show and I have a friend for life [in Amy], all I can do is thank the family, and I have a new family now. It’s a competition but you don’t feel like that backstage, you honestly feel like everyone has each other’s backs and everyone is just willing everyone to do their best! “
The results show opened with a spellbinding routine from the Strictly professionals, which told the cautionary tale of Icarus. Then, later in the episode Rina Sawayama performed her single This Hell.
The remaining ten couples will take to the dancefloor next when Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday on BBC One.
