Strictly Star Lawrence Robb Fights Back Tears In Emotional It Takes Two Appearance As Fans Insist He Was “Robbed” In Shock Triple Dance-Off

Lawrence Robb struggled to hold back his emotions as he reflected on his Strictly Come Dancing journey, paying a heartfelt tribute to professional partner Jowita Przystał after their unexpected elimination sparked outrage among viewers.

The Emmerdale actor returned to BBC Two’s Strictly: It Takes Two on Monday evening, just one day after his Glitterball Trophy hopes were crushed in the competition’s first-ever triple dance-off.

But as presenter Ellie Taylor asked him to look back on his time in the ballroom, Lawrence’s response revealed just how much the experience had meant to him — and why leaving the show was about far more than missing out on the trophy.

Lawrence Robb Gets Emotional As He Pays Tribute To Jowita Przystał

Asked about the highlights of his Strictly adventure, Lawrence immediately turned his attention to the person who had shared the journey with him.

Looking towards Jowita, he described one of the most meaningful parts of the experience as “meeting an incredible person, and this girl here”.

His appreciation extended well beyond their partnership on the dance floor. Lawrence also spoke warmly about the sense of belonging he had found throughout the competition.

“The sense of family, the love and the joy that it brings every week, the people, and the journey,” he explained.

For the actor, best known for playing Mack Boyd in Emmerdale, the experience had been a remarkable challenge from the very beginning.

Having entered the competition without any ballroom or Latin dancing experience, he had to master unfamiliar routines in a matter of days before performing them in front of millions of viewers.

“The idea of not knowing how to do any ballroom and Latin dancing at all, and then learning it in, what, three and a half days, and then performing it to millions of people is just… It’s wild,” Lawrence admitted.

Despite his elimination, he made it clear that simply taking part had been an achievement in itself.

“Doing Strictly is… Well, you’ve already won,” he told those still competing. “You’ve been on Strictly, and then anything on top of that is, you know, icing, cherry on top of the cake.”

It was a generous message from a contestant whose own journey had ended just as the pressure intensified.

A Halloween Tango Wasn’t Enough To Save The Couple

Lawrence and Jowita’s final performance came on Saturday night, when they took to the floor with a Ghostbusters-themed tango for Halloween week.

The routine earned them 26 out of a possible 40 points, with the judges offering several encouraging observations.

Craig Revel Horwood praised the performance as “sharp, staccato and very entertaining”, while Shirley Ballas noted that Lawrence was “improving” and “shining”.

Yet the positive feedback could not protect them from the public vote.

Despite avoiding the bottom position on the leaderboard, the pair found themselves in danger alongside Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu, as well as Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu.

The result was an unprecedented moment for Strictly: three couples were forced to compete in the dance-off instead of the usual two.

When the judges delivered their verdict, Lawrence and Jowita were unanimously sent home. Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood all voted to eliminate them, while Motsi Mabuse confirmed she would have reached the same decision.

The outcome ended their Glitterball ambitions — and left some viewers questioning whether the right couple had been sent packing.

“Lawrence Was Robbed”: Viewers React To The Shock Exit

Lawrence’s departure prompted an emotional response from fans, with some taking to X to express their disappointment over the triple dance-off and insist the actor had been unfairly eliminated.

One viewer wrote: “Poor Lawrence was robbed in the most horrible way during this horrendous three-way dance-off.”

Another shared their frustration, adding: “Dare I say it, but Lawrence was robbed. I am so sad.”

The comments reflected the disappointment surrounding the result, particularly after Lawrence and Jowita had received praise for their Halloween performance.

Although the judges were unanimous in their decision, the reaction from viewers showed that not everyone was ready to say goodbye to the couple.

For Lawrence, however, his appearance on It Takes Two offered an opportunity to celebrate what he had gained from the competition, rather than dwell solely on how it ended.

His tribute to Jowita and his advice to the remaining contestants made one thing clear: the experience had left a lasting impression, regardless of the final result.

Who Is Still In The Running For The Strictly Glitterball Trophy?

With Lawrence and Jowita out of the competition, ten couples remain in the race for the 2026 Glitterball Trophy.

Among them are Tabby Stoecker and Mark Karmalita, who have recently emerged as favourites to win the series.

The competition now moves forward without Lawrence, as the remaining celebrities face the challenge of surviving each new round and convincing both the judges and the public that they deserve a place in the final.

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, November 7, at 6.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.