Strictly fans in tears as Dan Walker pays emotional tribute to wife

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left in tears as BBC Breakfast star Dan Walker paid emotional tribute to his wife Sarah after opening the Saturday night dance show.

Dan danced the Viennese Waltz with his professional dance partner Nadiya Bychkova on the BBC One show in honour of his wife of 20 years.

And Sarah and the couple's three children Susanna, Jessica and Chuck appeared on the show for the first time on Saturday night to cheer him on during his rehearsals.

Dan, 44, and Nadiya, 32, performed to Billy Joel song She's Always A Woman on the dancefloor, which is one of Sarah's favourite songs.

Proud Sarah was seen giving Dan and Nadiya a standing ovation in the audience after their performance.

And afterwards Dan paid his emotional tribute that left audience members in floods of TEARS.

Show co-host Claudia Winkleman asked Dan how special it felt to dance to his wife's favourite song.

And Dan replied: "I'm going to gush over her for a moment, because she's one of those people the more you know her the more you love her.

"I've known her and loved her for over half of my life.

"She's absolutely amazing she's such a special person I absolutely love her to bits and I just hope she enjoyed that."

An emotional Nadiya sounded as if she was choking back tears too - as she praised Dan for helping her to enjoy the dance.

And the whole moment left viewers at home in bits.

One fan said: "I'm bloody crying already and it's over Dan Walker! That was lovely."

Another said: "Dan what a beautiful thing to say about your wife."

A third added: "Not me tearing up at Dan after that first dance."

Although one fan couldn't help chirping up: "Aw what Dan said about his wife is cute, would’ve been better if he said it without his arm around another woman."

His Viennese Waltz impressed the judges, who gave the couple a respectable 28 points.

But it is set to be toughest dance off yet with just ten contestants competing this week after Loose Women star Judi Love withdrew after testing positive for Covid.

Under the show rules, she gets a one week bye, with the hope that she will be well enough to return to the competition next week.

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