Will Mellor is the eleventh celebrity to depart the dance floor in Strictly Come Dancing 2022
This weekend, Will Mellor became the eleventh contestant to leave Strictly Come Dancing as Will faced Fleur in the dreaded dance off.
Both couples performed their favourite routine of the night again. Fleur East and her dance partner Vito Coppola performed their Charleston to Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano by Fiorello. Then Will Mellor and his dance partner Nancy Xu performed their Couples’ Choice to a 90s Manchester inspired medley, in a bid to impress the judges and make it through to next week’s Grand Final.
After both couples had danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts:
Craig Revel Horwood chose to save Fleur and Vito.
Craig said: “This has been really difficult tonight for me and I’ve done a lot of these darling! I found it so hard because both couples are extraordinary and I want to see both couples in the final but that can’t be so. For me, tonight the most impressive couple that I would like to save and send through to the final are Fleur and Vito.”
Motsi Mabuse chose to save Fleur and Vito.
Motsi said: “This season has been challenging, it has been very close, every single show, and tonight it has not been any different. It is proof of your quality, it is proof of your championship, you can be proud of yourself, I have decided because of micro details that I am going to save Fleur and Vito.”
Anton Du Beke chose to save Will and Nancy.
Anton said: “Well based on this dance in the dance off and this dance only, I think it is really important to say that, because these couples both danced terrifically and I marked them the same on Sunday night. And now I am looking for real detail, how do I separate them? I’m really searching for something, its such fine detail. Due to an error in a dismount from a lift, I am going to have to save Will and Nancy.”
With two votes to Fleur and Vito, and one to Will and Nancy it meant Head Judge Shirley Ballas had the casting vote, and she decided to save Fleur and Vito.
Shirley Ballas said: “First of all, the British public has spoken and with respect I take that on board. My fellow judges have decided that they don’t agree, so I have made lots of notes here, both couples were outstanding and not only today but through the series. I have loved both of them, this is by far, even for me Craig, the most difficult decision I feel I have had to make. Based on micro details, I have decided to save Fleur and Vito.”
Tess asked Will if he had any final words, Will said: “I have to thank you all for giving me this chance to put a smile on my mums face, she deserves it. I’ll take whatever I have learnt from this show forward in whatever I do because it shows you can achieve more than you think. I didn’t think I’d be able to get anywhere near this and I am so proud of what we have achieved but also everybody who has voted for me, who has supported me, the messages I’ve had from my local community and children. Thank you all so much, we really, really appreciated every bit.”
When asked if she had any words for her partner, Nancy said: “I want to thank everyone who works on the show, it’s an incredible show, I’ve had such an amazing journey. The support from the whole team is just phenomenal. I’m proud of the partnership, we’ve had such an amazing journey together. I really wish I could make more memories with you and your family.”
Will added, “Anyone watching this show, the people that work on this show, the crew, the make up team, the wardrobe team, the judges, the contestants, this is an unbelievable journey. If you get the chance to get on this floor then do it, it’s unbelievable this place.”
Tonight’s Lewis Capaldi performed his latest single Pointless, alongside a stunning routine from our professional dancers, Giovanni Pernice and Katya Jones.
The remaining four couples will take to the dancefloor next week for the final time as they bid to lift the Glitterball Trophy when Strictly Come Dancing: The Final will air live on Saturday 17th December at 7.15pm, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Strictly – It Takes Two
Will and Nancy will be joining Rylan for their first exclusive televised interview live on Strictly It Takes Two tonight at 9pm on BBC Two.
