Strictly: It Takes Two airs emotional exit interview for couple

"I just really wanted so much to get to that final."

By Jacob Sarkisian

12 Dec 2022

Strictly Come Dancing spoilers follow.

Strictly: It Takes Two aired straight after tonight's results show (December 12) for the first time ever, meaning the raw emotion of Will Mellor and Nancy Xu's semi-final exit made for one of the most moving exit interviews ever.

Coronation Street star Will and Nancy exited at the semi-finals stage after losing in the dance-off, despite a stellar Manchester-inspired routine in their couple's choice dance.

The couple spoke to Strictly: It Takes Two host Rylan Clark about their emotional exit.

Nancy said Will did “amazing” and was impressed how much she enjoyed dancing with him throughout the series. Will admitted that he knew they were in danger of going home after coming at the bottom of the leaderboard following Sunday night's show.

will mellor and nancy xu, strictly it takes two

BBC

"I just really wanted so much to get to that final, just so I can say I’ve completed it. I really wanted to get this girl there. She really deserves it and she’s given me everything, everything I could ask for – I wouldn’t have gotten through week one without her," Will said.

"So I was gutted to be at the bottom, but I thought if it’s our turn, it’s our turn and if we have to dance, we have to dance."

"I feel awful. I can’t lie. I feel awful because, for me, he did me proud," Nancy said. "He did everything that I asked him to do. We had so much fun, travelling with him to where he grew up, it was an amazing journey."

will mellor and nancy xu, strictly come dancing 2022, semi final

BBC

An emotional Nancy then watched her and Will’s best bits from throughout the series, including highlights from several dance performances including their rumba, charleston, waltz, and brilliant couple’s choice dance from the semi-finals.

Nancy broke down in tears while watching the highlights reel and a special collection of recorded messages from Will’s family sent him into tears, too.

"I was looking forward every day stepping into the dance studio just to teach him a new dance to see his face, to see him not believe in himself, question himself, then slowly enjoy them," Nancy said.

BBC

She continued: "To see the smile on his face, looking at him in the eye. I have had such an amazing journey with him."

Will was equally forthcoming with praise for his dance partner, declaring that he would never have wanted to go on this "unbelievable ride" with anybody else apart from Nancy herself.

"We’ve created some amazing moments that we can look back on. Thank you so much to Strictly for giving me the memories for my mum and my family and my sisters and my kids," Will said.

#Strictly Semi-Finalists Will and Nancy have given everything this series. They're taking so many memories home from an incredible 12 weeks together 💕@Mellor76 @Nancy_xuxi pic.twitter.com/tAGP0SsAeq
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 12, 2022

"But my wife Michelle has been by my side, every time I come home moaning, aching. And she’s running me baths — without her, this would have been really tough. And without this lady next to me, I wouldn’t have got anywhere near this."

Will finished: "So thanks for the memories and the moments and I’m going to take what I’ve learned from this. You can test yourself and you can go out of your comfort zone and you can achieve more than you can."

Strictly Come Dancing's final airs on Saturday (December 17) at 7.05pm on BBC One, while spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows also stream on BBC iPlayer.

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