Jayde Adams gets emotional on Strictly

Jayde Adams broke down in tears of emotion on last night’s Strictly Come Dancing as she dedicated her performance to her late sister Jenna.

The comedian choked up when host Claudia Winkleman  mentioned her sibling, who died aged 26 eleven years ago, having suffered a brain tumour six years earlier.

Jayde told Winkleman: ‘Before she died she said to my mum "do you think people will forget me?" and you just said her name on this. It's just incredible. It's amazing and I feel so lucky that I get to do this because so many people lose people.

‘Grief is so difficult and so personal and to be able to keep the promise that we made her that we wouldn't let people forget her is the most incredible gift anyone could give me or my family.’

Appropriately enough, she and dance partner Karen Hauer had danced an American Smooth to Bette Midler ’s Wind Beneath My Wings

In rehearsals, the comic explained: ‘Bette Midler was mine and my sister Jenna's most favourite musician when we were growing up. We used to have CDs of Bette all over the house and we'd make up dances to Bette in our parents' living room. The lyrics to the song really resonate. She was two years older than me, and she died 11 years ago.’

Jayde also took to Twitter to share the last photo of her and Jenna, saying: She would be so proud of me.'

Last pic we ever had. Her love for me was strong, I’ll never ever feel unloved. I am beyond grateful to be able to channel grief through art.

This is Jenna Adams, she would be so proud of me, astounded @ClaudiaWinkle said her name & very jealous I’m on Strictly, we loved it pic.twitter.com/U6jk2k2mtd

— Jayde Adams (@jaydeadams) October 15, 2022

Her score of 31 out of a possible 40 placed Jayde seventh on the leaderboard.

They were one place ahead of Ellie Taylor and Johannes Radebe who scored 30 for their  Viennese Waltz to Boom Bang A Bang by Lulu, set in a bucolic rural scene:

Published: 16 Oct 2022