CLAUDIA Winkleman broke down in tears as the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final proved emotional for everyone involved.
On tonight’s episode, the show said goodbye to Pete Wicks and Jowita Przytal after they lost in the dance-off against Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec.
But tears started well before the elimination, with Claudia getting choked up when talking to finalists Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, and Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola.
When the two pairs were confirmed to be the first finalists of the series, Claudia spoke to them both about their journeys to date.
While Chris’s speech about Dianne left her choked up, it was Sarah’s message to pro partner Vito that got her choked up.
“I genuinely thought we were going to be in the dance off, and I really psyched myself up for that,” said Sarah.
“I just couldn’t believe it when our names were called out. It feels like it just feels like a dream at the minute.”
She later added: “I mean, Vito, you believe in me, and I’m so grateful because I couldn’t have got here with anybody else.
“And you know, you put so much work into our routines, and you were so meticulous about everything, and you, you just, you’re constantly…
“You know, even when you’re not in the rehearsal room, you’re going, you’re thinking about things, and you’re sending me messages, and yeah I’m so grateful,” she said.
Vito responded: “I said to you at the beginning that my way of teaching is like a mirror.
“So if I do, what I do is because I just mirror whoever’s in front of me, and you deserve all of this.”
Claudia then couldn’t hold it in anymore, admitting “she’s gone” as she wiped away tears at the sweet moment, while Sarah was cradled by Vito.
The TV host then cut to the performance by Raye on the main dancefloor.
Sarah, Chris, JB Gill and Tasha will now all be going through to the final.
Each will have to perform three routines – a showdance, a judges’ choice and a couples’ choice – in order to fight for the glitterball.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Final airs Saturday, December 14 on BBC One.
