James Bye has spoken out after his exit from Strictly Come Dancing this year.
It was the soap star and his pro partner Amy Dowden who left Strictly this weekend in the Halloween special.
The pair faced Fleur East and pro partner Vito Coppola in the dance off.
For their first interview following their elimination on Sunday night, James and Amy spoke exclusively with Rylan on Strictly – It Takes Two tonight about their exit out of the competition.
On his performance this Saturday, James said: “I loved it. I said that from the beginning of the week, and it was a completely different vibe from the Foxtrot, so we got too have a lot more fun, it had a bit of character, I really enjoyed it.”
Amy added: “Those lifts were risky, in the dress run one didn’t even happen! They were brand new for me, let alone for James. He absolutely nailed it on Saturday night and in the dance off. So I couldn’t be happier.”
In being in the bottom two, James said “It’s never a nice place to be of course, but there is only so much control you have, all you can do is go out and give it your best and hope you don’t mess up.
“The standard is getting better and better, and some dances you will excel at, the quickstep felt like it was one of my dances, but for whatever reason the judge didn’t feel like the Charleston was one of my stronger dances and that’s just the game. We did our best, and I am happy to leave the competition in those circumstances.
“We had the best time, and we danced it as well as we could have danced it, and Fleur is incredible!”
On being in the dance off for the first time, James added: “It’s up there with one of the worst experiences of my life, especially being up against Fleur. She knows what she is doing, she is very good, and I love her to bits, it’s horrible competing with someone who I’ve got close with and I know is a lovely person, and I knew I was going to go!”
Amy revealed: “We had a chat and I told him, you’ve got to go out there and fight. But most importantly go and have fun!”
James continued: “Also it’s 90 seconds! I think its worst case scenario if you don’t commit and then have regrets, but I don’t think we did, I really think I left nothing up there.”
On his whole Strictly journey, James reflected: “I can’t believe how much we’ve done, its shot by. I’ve had such an amazing time, Amy is what Strictly is all about. I have never worked with anyone, in any line of work I have ever had, who loves their job as much as she does.
“She is absolutely obsessed with this show, she gives it every part of her body, she will be in my life forever, and she is what Strictly is about and they are lucky to have her.”
Following their exit, ten celebs remain in the competition.
Names left on the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing line up include TV actor Will Mellor, singer, TV & radio host Fleur East, former England footballer Tony Adams, singer Molly Rainford, TV and radio host Tyler West and actress & TV host Kym Marsh.
Completing contestants are comic and actress Ellie Taylor, media personality Richie Anderson, Wildlife cameraman & TV personality Hamza Yassin, Paralympic champion & broadcaster Ellie Simmonds OBE and TV presenter Helen Skelton.
Strictly 2022 airs on BBC One.
You can watch episodes online via BBC iPlayer.
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