Strictly Come Dancing spin-off It Takes Two experienced a schedule shake-up on Monday evening for a heartwarming reason.
In the recent episode, presenter Fleur East spoke to recently eliminated pair, Olympic swimmer and his professional dance partner Nadiya Bychkova, after their departure from the competition over the weekend.
Tom, 24, and Nadiya, 35, found themselves in the dreaded dance-off against Neil Jones and Toyah Willcox with the latter duo saved.
During Monday’s It Takes Two, host Fleur, 36, disclosed that their interview had been pre-recorded earlier than usual due to an important reason involving and the WellChild Awards.
Fleur explained: “Now Tom, the reason we’re doing this a little early is because you’re off to see ! What’s happening?”, reports .
Strictly Come Dancing’s spin-off It Takes Two was in a schedule shake-up on Monday night due to a heartwarming reason (Image: BBC)
Tom responded enthusiastically: “I am! I’m seeing for the WellChild Awards, it’s a charity that supports young people struggling with life-long diseases and it celebrates them and their carers.”
He added: “I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited along to present an award which is a real honour so this [It Takes Two] and then off to that. Glad I could do both!”
Reflecting on his departure from Strictly, Tom candidly expressed: “I definitely wanted to go further in the competition, I’m gutted, there’s no two ways about it. I’ve thought about it loads and we’ve spoke about it loads, I did give it my all. There was nothing more I could have given. I loved every part of it.”
Later during the interview, the show played Tom’s best bits to which the Olympian appeared visibly moved as he was comforted by Nadiya (Image: BBC)
He continued: “I said, I don’t know what more either of us could have done, it was genuine shock and I just wish I could have kept going, I really do.”
Nadiya, matching his sentiments, remarked: “It was a shock and I’m absolutely gutted that I won’t get the chance to teach this wonderful man another dance”, and lamented the lost opportunities for future performances.
Tom said he was convinced they had done enough to secure another week on the show and admitted it was a massive shock to instead be eliminated. He added: “I just wish I could have stayed a part of it for longer!”
Later during the interview, the show played Tom’s best bits to which the Olympian appeared visibly moved as he was comforted by Nadiya.
Strictly’s It Takes Two continues on weekdays at 6:30pm on One and iPlayer.