DANCING On Ice viewers saw Joe Swash break down in tears before performing an incredible dance in honour of his late father.
Fans saw him welling up discussing the track – which was so important to Ricky that is was played at his funeral.
Breaking down, Joe said: “I’m probably so different to the person I would have been if he was… it’s hard… it’s a hard thing.
“I miss my dad every day. There’s so much I’d love to show him. There are so many things I’ve done and experienced that I could have shared with him.”
Watching on TV from home, Joe’s girlfriend Stacey Solomon posted a video of him dancing, writing: “Crying. We love you do much @realjoeswashy Daddy would be so proud.”
Meanwhile, his son Harry, 12, and mum Kiffy were watching him proudly from the studio audience.
The judges were impressed with his dance, bagging 9.5s from all four judges – a total of 38.
Talking in a pre-recorded clip, he said: “I’m going to be dancing to Simply Red’s Stars. This song holds a very special part in my heart because it was my mum and dad’s song.
“We used to go on these long holidays to France, we used to put the caravan on the back of the car, and my mum and dad used to listen to Simply Red constantly.
“That music really brings back memories of a childhood. This song was played at his funeral. The song kind of changes – now when my mum plays it, it brings back sad memories, so I want to give it back to her.
