CHRIS APPLETON BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS AFTER STRICTLY EXIT

Chris Appleton broke down in tears during his first live television appearance since leaving Strictly Come Dancing. The celebrity hairdresser appeared alongside his professional dance partner, Amy Dowden, on the BBC's companion programme, It Takes Two, on Monday, 5 September. Their appearance followed the pair's exit from the main competition over the weekend. Appleton became emotional after producers played a montage of his best moments from the series. Host Ellie told him she could see he was "clearly really emotional" and that his time on the show had "meant a lot" to him.

Appleton replied that the experience had been "phenomenal" before struggling to continue speaking. He attempted to describe a conversation with his children on the Saturday before he left the competition, saying, "I said to my kids on Saturday before I left, 'Guys, no matter how'..." He did not complete the sentence, telling Ellie, "I can't even talk." Dowden, who partnered Appleton throughout his run on the show, sat beside him during the interview. It Takes Two airs as Strictly Come Dancing's companion programme, giving eliminated celebrities and their professional partners the chance to reflect on their time in the competition shortly after leaving.

No further explanation of the circumstances behind Appleton and Dowden's exit was given during the appearance. Their departure from the competition was described as a shock exit. Appleton's reaction to the montage was among the more emotional moments shown on that week's episode of It Takes Two. Strictly Come Dancing pairs celebrities with professional dancers in a televised ballroom and Latin dance competition broadcast by the BBC.