‘I GAVE IT EVERYTHING I HAD!’: STRICTLY COME DANCING STAR LAWRENCE ROBB FIGHTS BACK TEARS AFTER SHOCK ELIMINATION LEAVES FANS STUNNED

Strictly Come Dancing star Lawrence Robb struggled to hold back tears as he finally broke his silence following his emotional departure from the BBC dance competition.

The 34-year-old Emmerdale actor, best known for playing Mackenzie Boyd in the ITV soap, appeared on the spin-off programme Strictly: It Takes Two on Monday, November 2, where he reflected on his journey and the unexpected end of his time in the ballroom.

Sitting alongside his professional dance partner, Jowita Przystał, Lawrence became visibly emotional as presenter Ellie Taylor asked what the experience had meant to him.

Looking towards Jowita, he explained that one of the greatest highlights had been meeting her and becoming part of the Strictly family.

“The sense of family, the love and the joy that it brings every week, the people, and the journey,” he said.

He also reflected on the extraordinary challenge of learning ballroom and Latin dancing from scratch before performing live in front of millions of television viewers.

“The idea of not knowing how to do any ballroom and Latin dancing at all, and then learning it in, what, three and a half days, and then performing it to millions of people is just… It’s wild,” he explained.

Despite the disappointment of leaving the competition, Lawrence insisted that simply taking part was already an achievement.

“Doing Strictly is… Well, you’ve already won,” he told the remaining contestants. “You’ve been on Strictly, and then anything on top of that is, you know, icing, cherry on top of the cake.”

A SHOCK EXIT AFTER STRICTLY’S FIRST-EVER TRIPLE DANCE-OFF

Lawrence’s emotional appearance came just one day after his elimination during the show’s Halloween Week results programme on Sunday, November 1.

In a surprising twist, the 2026 series featured its first-ever three-couple dance-off, putting three celebrity-professional partnerships at risk of leaving the competition.

Lawrence and Jowita found themselves in the bottom three alongside Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu, and Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu.

All three couples were required to perform their routines again in front of the judges.

For Lawrence and Jowita, that meant revisiting their Halloween-themed Tango to Ray Parker Jr.’s iconic song, Ghostbusters.

The pair had earned 26 points out of 40 for their original performance.

Although the judges had praised elements of their routine, they also identified technical problems, including Lawrence’s footwork, posture and consistency.

Craig Revel Horwood described the performance as sharp, staccato and entertaining, while Shirley Ballas acknowledged that Lawrence had been improving.

However, the pressure of the dance-off proved too much to overcome.

After watching all three couples perform again, judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood unanimously chose to eliminate Lawrence and Jowita.

Motsi Mabuse also indicated that she would have made the same decision.

The result meant Lawrence became the fifth celebrity contestant to leave Strictly Come Dancing 2026.

FANS QUESTION THE UNEXPECTED THREE-WAY ELIMINATION

The unusual format quickly sparked debate among Strictly viewers.

Some fans were disappointed that Lawrence’s journey ended after what they considered one of his better performances.

Others questioned whether introducing a three-couple dance-off had made the elimination process particularly harsh.

Several viewers took to social media to express their frustration, with some arguing that Lawrence had shown noticeable improvement throughout the competition.

The actor had previously struggled with nerves and technical challenges, but his progress had become an important part of his Strictly journey.

His earlier Salsa performance during Icons Week had been a particular highlight, earning him 30 points and demonstrating a different side of his dancing ability.

For many viewers, seeing him leave just as he appeared to be growing more confident was especially disappointing.

JOWITA’S HEARTFELT TRIBUTE LEAVES LAWRENCE EMOTIONAL

Perhaps the most touching moment of Lawrence’s television appearance came when he watched a collection of highlights from his time on the show.

As the memories played, he struggled to hold back his tears.

Jowita, who had spent weeks training and performing alongside him, reached over and held his hand, offering comfort as he became emotional.

The professional dancer had already paid tribute to her celebrity partner following their elimination.

“Thank you for doing your best and putting up with my terrible singing every day,” she said.

“You’re a kind and beautiful soul. Your aura shines so bright and I absolutely adore you. Your heart is made of gold.”

Her words reflected the close bond the pair had developed throughout the competition.

For Lawrence, Strictly had become about much more than learning dance routines or receiving scores from the judging panel. It was also about the friendships, shared experiences and personal challenges that came with stepping outside his comfort zone.

A FINAL GOODBYE TO THE STRICTLY BALLROOM

Following their elimination, Lawrence and Jowita returned to the dance floor for one final farewell performance.

The pair danced to Kylie Minogue’s Better the Devil You Know, sharing a final moment together as their fellow contestants gathered around them.

Lawrence’s parents were also in the studio audience to witness his departure.

Although his Strictly journey ended earlier than he had hoped, he made it clear that he was proud of everything he had accomplished.

His message to the remaining contestants was simple: appreciate the opportunity, enjoy every moment and recognise that taking part is already something special.

For Jowita, the experience also ended with an emotional tribute to a partner she clearly admired.

And for the fans who had followed Lawrence from his first steps on the dance floor, his departure was a reminder that Strictly is about more than winning the glitterball trophy.

Sometimes, the most memorable journeys are the ones that end before anyone is ready to say goodbye.

Lawrence Robb may have left the competition, but he has certainly left his mark on the Strictly ballroom.