Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas revealed she felt emotional and had a “moment” during Chris McCausland’s performance which was in homage to his hometown of Liverpool.
McCausland and Dianne Buswell took to the dancefloor tonight and performed the Waltz to You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers.
During their VT beforehand, the comedian admitted to feeling the pressure when performing this dance as it meant a lot to him.
However, after performing the dance and leaving Motsi Mabuse on her feet, Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood all admitted to feeling moved by the dance.
Kicking off the comments, Ballas noted: “I think I need a minute to get myself together here, I found that extremely emotional.
“You know I am from that neck of the woods shall we say, close to Liverpool, I thought this number, I mean the music itself is just beautiful, but your footwork! Your lines!
The pair performed the Waltz this week
BBC
“Your attempt to keep your frame throughout the whole thing, your concentration, but your footwork!
“I am coming back to the footwork, I don’t think I have ever witnessed footwork like that, it was spectacular.”
She continued: “You have got to start with the footwork first, you have got to get the footwork and the soft knees, you have got to get a core going.
“Then it goes into the frame and your frame is a lot better than when you did your Foxtrot, it is improving all the time.”
Shirley Ballas admitted to needing a moment after being impressed with his footwork
BBC
It wasn’t just Ballas who was moved, as Du Beke agreed: “It is just… that is it, it is just a little bit of work on, literally the upper body right on the upper back, shoulders and the arms.
“And just getting that little bit more upright, but from that down it is heavenly, it is gorgeous, your sentiment, the way you move, the flow, oh the flow!
“Your timing is exquisite. I had a moment, I welled up.”
Speaking to Claudia Winkleman after, McCausland revealed: “I have been having a moment all week, on the back of last Saturday I was quite overwhelmed.
The couple scored their highest of 35 this week
BBC
“The reaction from the audience and stuff and listening to the song all week, it has been an emotional week. We’re representing the city in a way and it is a song about bringing everyone together.”
Buswell added that she also felt the pressure to curate a beautiful dance for McCausland, and noted: “He had to fully trust me that it was a beautiful moment, so thank you.”
Horwood gave the couple a score of eight, whilst the remaining three awarded them a score of nine, giving a total of 35 which is currently their highest.