Strictly’s Will Mellor chokes back tears after dancing to his late father’s favourite song

Will Mellor of Strictly Come Dancing struggled to tears on Saturday night as he and Nancy Xu danced to his late father’s favorite song.

The Four Pints ​​of Lager actor, 46, suddenly lost his father Bill in 2020 – just two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.

And after performing a Waltz to Three Times a Lady by Lionel Richie and the Commodores, which was dedicated to his parent, Will was overcome with emotion.

In his VT, Will explained, “It’s a song my dad used to sing to my mom. This dance is two people moving as one, two hearts beating as one, that’s what we want.

He was also seen video calling his mother urging him to “keep it together” and noted that they “had been through some rough times.”

Will said to his mother, “Hopefully I can pay my respects to Dad with this dance.”

The star and Nancy then stunned with a stunning routine and when the dance ended Will stood looking up at the ceiling with his arms spread wide as she struggled to hold back his tears.

He then joined host Tess Daly to get feedback from the judges, with Will visibly upset and struggling not to cry.

Motsi Mabuse said of the performance: “Wow. Will that was absolutely beautiful. In every essence of the word beauty that is what it is.

‘Music, together, timeless, feeling, message, performance… what more could you want? I don’t know – beautiful!’

As head judge Shirley Ballas shared, “Well dancing is one thing, but after watching your VT and that beautiful relationship you have with your mom, it’s just amazing — I miss my own son.”

She went on to praise various elements of the performance, pointing out that his “footwork was fantastic!”

Anton Du Beke added that the dance was “flawless,” saying it was the “embodiment” of two bodies dancing as one to music.

While Craig Revel Horwood noted that it “missed a bit of swing and sway,” he added “that’s really nothing for how you told that story. You really made your family very proud.

Will and Nancy then joined Claudia Winkleman upstairs, where the actor again struggled with his emotions and wiped a tear.

Nancy then added emotionally about her partner: “I think he did a great job and when we talk about this dance, we don’t just dance for this moment, we want to dedicate this dance to everyone who has lost their loved ones and not get the chance to say goodbye.’

Watching the scenes unfold, home viewers took to Twitter to share that seeing Will upset made them emotional too.

“My God, I just want to jump through the screen and hug Will, he’s trying so hard to keep it together,” commented one person.

While another shared: “Will is so emotional. He makes me emotional.’

A third said: ‘Me: I’m not interested in why your song is special to you, celeb, just dance please.

“Your father would be so proud of you Will. I’m so emotional right now. What a beautiful dance’, remarked a fourth spectator.

With a fifth addition: ‘Oh Will. That was beautiful. Anyone else in tears?’

It comes after Will revealed earlier this week that he was in tears after learning the dance routine to one of his late father’s favorite songs.

Will appeared on Loose Women with his professional dance partner Nancy Xu on Thursday and admitted he struggled to get through rehearsals.

He said, ‘This week I’m dancing to one of my father’s favorite songs. It’s hard, I called my mom, I couldn’t get through the routine without crying.

“We lost time on Monday because I couldn’t concentrate.”

He continued, “I want to do it right because I want to celebrate it. He’s one of the reasons I do it strictly. I want to embrace life and go for it.’

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6.55pm on ITV.