Strictly’s Jaime Winstone fights back tears over dance off

DAILYMAIL.COM • 1d ago

By CONNIE RUSK, ASSOCIATE SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR 11:03 07 Oct 2026, updated 11:19 07 Oct 2026

Jaime Winstone found it ‘horrifying’ to be in the first Strictly Come Dancing bottom two of the series.

The actress, 41, faced Chris Appleton in the dance-off on Sunday night but survived thanks to the judges vote.

Jaime admitted the dance-off has shaken her confidence as it brought back painful memories of her school days and the feeling that ‘no one’ liked her.

Speaking to host Ellie Taylor on Strictly: It Takes Two on Tuesday, Jaime said she was ‘not used to being so vulnerable on camera’ and described waiting to learn if she was staying in the competition a ‘horrific feeling’.

She tearfully said: ‘It was terrifying. All the feelings of “Oh, nobody likes me, and we got so much wrong”. But, I loved doing the dance, I love the Cha Cha…

‘It has been really emotional, there were certain things that Chris said yesterday – you really do go back to that child in school going ‘I don’t fit in’ – when actually some of the greatest things about you are what make you stand out.

‘Yeah, a lot of insecurities happened yesterday. But you know, it’s not how you fall, it’s how you get back up again.’

Her professional partner Carlos Gu admitted he was ‘heartbroken’ to have been in the dance-off for the first time in three years but insisted his feelings were more ‘for Jaime’ than himself, with him believing the decision was ‘unfair’.

The couple revealed this weekend will see them perform a Viennese Waltz to Never Tear Us Apart, and Jaime plans to use her emotional week to her advantage.

She said: ‘Oh my god, it’s really emotional! It’s emotional. Coming in with the energy, I can use it as the tools, you know? As an actor, I can go, “Right ok, I am feeling really emotional from last weekend” But also, it’s really powerful.’

Carlos was also upset that his friend Amy Dowden received an early exit for the second year in a row.

He wrote on Instagram earlier this week: ‘My heart is broken!!! To my sister from another mother @amy_dowden, to @chrisappleston1, I wish people could [have] had more chance to see what a beautiful human you are!’

Earlier this week, Chris spoke about how ‘vulnerable’ he felt on Strictly.

Asked about the biggest challenge he faced on the show, he said: ‘I think it was just going out there, being so vulnerable. I think the last time I felt that vulnerable was, I don’t know, as a kid at school, because I became good at what I did in my career and I felt like I knew it.

‘So going out there and dancing… if you’d ever said to someone about me dancing, they would laugh! My son said to me when I said I was going to do Strictly, “Dad, you better start doing yoga, because those hips are really stiff.’ And I laughed at it, but I didn’t really realise, when I’d be standing in front of the nation doing it, that he was right”.’

Husband, 45, is charged with murder after GP ‘for the Royal Family’ is found dead ‘while hosting…

The mystery of what actually happened at RAF Fairford that’s straight out of a Hollywood thriller:…

Meghan’s Sussex Squad fans ‘terrorise’ British priests and hound one off social media in row over…

Meghan shares new footage of Lilibet and her American accent in promotional post for As Ever

British executive whose son, two, fell to his death from a Cyprus hotel window could lose his career…

Friend of Prince William left £90,000 in his estate after plunging 100ft to his death from hotel…

Childminder who left 27 children in her home alone and unsupervised pleads guilty to neglect

University student, 19, ‘strangled to death’ by stepfather who drove to her university halls after…

Christa Pike is conscious and still shackled to hospital bed after botched execution, says lawyer

‘Tiger mum’ and husband ‘stole’ more than £5million in school fees ‘after couple set up top college…

Kieran Hayler ‘told girl he raped to take it to the grave’ as court hears 13-year-old was left in…

Two police officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed disabled pensioner, 92, in care home are sacked…

Viral video sparks fears schoolchildren would ‘raid Tesco’ store in repeat of chaotic ‘summer…

Amazing home with labyrinth of underground tunnels hand-dug by previous owner more than 20 years…

Christa Pike’s recovery after botched execution leaves ‘questions that have never been asked’ as…

‘Dexter obsessed’ forensics student pleads guilty to murdering woman in copycat ‘kill room’ he…

Strictly’s Jaime Winstone fights back tears over dance offComments are subject to our House rules and TermsNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}

No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first.

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{#replies.comments}}{{^isLast}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/isLast}}{{#isLast}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/isLast}}{{/replies.comments}}{{/replies.totalCount}}{{^replies.totalCount}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/replies.totalCount}}{{/isComment}}The opinions and views expressed in the comments section are solely those of the individual users and do not represent or reflect the opinions, views, or positions of MailOnline. MailOnline does not endorse, support, or verify the accuracy of any user-generated content.Terms|Privacy|FeedbackOldest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}