STRICTLY Come Dancing star Amy Dowden was in floods of tears on It Takes Two after her exit from the competition with celeb partner James Bye.
Amy was left reaching for the tissues when EastEnders actor James paid a sweet tribute to her saying he had made a “friend for life”.
James Bye left Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday with pro Amy Dowden
Amy wept during their interview on It Takes Two
Rylan found tissues for Amy and told her ‘we love you’
He became the fifth celebrity leave the competition when he found himself in the dreaded dance-off for the first time and was up against singer and broadcaster Fleur East, following a Halloween-inspired live show.
Dressed as a beekeeper, James reprised his Charleston to Bumble Bee by LaVern Baker Amy, who was dressed as a bee, in a bid to impress the judges.
The pair joined Rylan Clark on It Takes Two to reflect on their exit, with James showering praise on Welsh pro Amy, 32.
He said: “I’ve had such an amazing time but Amy is what Strictly is all about.
“I have never worked with anybody, in any line of work that has loved her job as much as Amy does.
“She gives this show every part of her body, she is such a lovely human being, she will be in my life forever. She is amazing. But this is what Strictly is all about and they are so lucky to have her.”
Amy dabbed away the tears as host Rylan told her: “We are so lucky to have her.
“Ame, we are still going to see you all the time, you know how much we love you.”
James earlier admitted he was gutted to leave having performed one of his favourite dances.
He said: “The standard is getting better and better and better and some dances you are going to excel at. For whatever reason the judges didn’t see that the Charleston was one of our best dances.
“It’s a game and that is the way you have to play it. We did our best and I’m happy to have left the competition under those circumstances. We danced as well as we could have danced it. And Fleur is incredible.”
Speaking about being in the dance off, he added: “It was up there with one of the worst experiences of my life.
“(Fleur) is very good. She knows what she is doing and it is horrible to have to compete with a friend, and know I’m going to go.”
Amy sparked a mystery last week on Strictly when she was spotted teary-eyed and emotional while waiting in the wings with James Bye.
She recently married fiancé Ben Jones after their big day was delayed by Covid.
The couple tied the knot at a five-star wedding venue in Gower Peninsula, South Wales, in July.
Amy sparked a mystery last week when she looked teary-eyed on Strictly
