Will Mellor speaks out after Strictly Come Dancing exit

Will Mellor has spoken out after his exit from Strictly Come Dancing this year.

It was the actor and pro partner Nancy Xu who left Strictly this week ahead of Saturday’s grand final.

For their first interview following their elimination tonight, Will and Nancy spoke exclusively with Rylan on Strictly – It Takes Two about their exit out of the competition.

Talking about learning two dances in the semi-final, Will said: “It was tough, my brain struggles with one dance a week, I can’t take two things in at once. The stress levels were higher, it was the semi-finals, the pressure was there, it was tough, but I thought I was ready. We trained hard and we were ready to go.”

He continued when asked about the judges’ comments: “I am just human, everyone who meets me gets to meet me, I don’t have another person I can put on. I was disappointed, I’d worked so hard and we’d got so far in the competition, the last thing I wanted to do was get it wrong that night. From what the judges said, I beat myself up, and I’ve watched it back and I was too harsh on myself. I have always said what I really care most about, is making sure this lady next to me is happy, if she is happy, I am happy.”

Nancy added: “I think people have a different opinions, and a different way to look at a dance. For me, he did everything I asked him to do, the passion, the drama, everything. He did me so proud, for me, I will give him as many 10s as I have!”
On his Couples Choice, Will said “Our Couples Choice was one where we could go a bit nostalgic, have loads of fun, and it was a throwback to the 90s. We went out and enjoyed it and I thought it could be our last dance, and every dance could be your last one, but when you have two, you have the chance to come back strong. I really enjoyed it, loved the routine, loved the music, it was really nostalgic to me, it reminded me of being aged 17 or 18 going out dancing. I really enjoyed it.”

On being at the bottom of the leader board, Will said: “I thought we were in trouble and you don’t want to be there on the semi-final. I just really wanted to get to the final, so I could say I’d completed it. I really wanted to get this girl there, she really deserves it, she has given me everything I could ask for, I wouldn’t of got through week one without her. I was gutted, but if its our turn, its our turn and we’ll dance if we have to dance, and that’s what we did.”

Nancy confessed: “I felt awful, I can’t lie, for me he did me so proud. He did everything I asked him to do, we have had so much fun. This week I travelled with him to see where he grew up, its been such an amazing journey.”

On their relationship, Nancy said: “I am so grateful, thank you. I have had the best journey, I could of even imagined. I looked forward every day to step into that dance studio to teach him a new dance and see his face, to see him not believe in himself and question himself, and then slowly he would enjoy it and on Saturday night he would have a smile on his face! Thank you so much.”

Will added: “I wouldn’t of wanted to do it with anyone else. It’s been an unbelievable ride, we’ve made some amazing moments we can look back on. Thanks so much to Strictly for giving me the memories for my mum, my family, my sisters, my kids, and my wife Michelle who has been by my side every time I come home moaning and aching, and she is running my baths. Without her it would have been really tough, and without this lady next to me, I wouldn’t of got anywhere near this, so thank you for the memories. I am going to take from this, you can do things and test yourself, and take yourself out your comfort zone every now and then, and you can achieve more than you think you can.”

Following their exit, four celebs remain in the competition for the grand final.

Competing for the glitterball trophy next Saturday will be TV & radio host Helen Skelton, singer, TV & radio host Fleur East, Animal Park presenter & cameraman Hamza Yassin and CBBC actress Molly Rainford.

Strictly Come Dancing 2022 airs on BBC One.

The Final will air live on Saturday, 17 December from 7:15PM.

You can watch episodes via BBC iPlayer.