LAWRENCE ROBB FIGHTS BACK TEARS AFTER STRICTLY EXIT AS HIS THREE-WORD MESSAGE TOUCHES FANS

November 5, 2026 | Entertainment

Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb has opened up about his emotional departure from Strictly Come Dancing, struggling to hold back tears as he reflected on a journey that meant far more to him than simply learning to dance.

The 34-year-old actor and his professional partner, Jowita Przystał, were eliminated on Sunday, November 1, following the show’s first-ever three-couple dance-off.

But it was his appearance on the BBC’s companion programme, Strictly: It Takes Two, the following evening that revealed just how deeply the experience had affected him.

As presenter Ellie Taylor asked what had meant the most to him, Lawrence turned towards Jowita and spoke about the friendship, support and memories they had built together.

“You’ve already won” – the words that summed up his experience

Rather than focusing on the disappointment of leaving the competition, Lawrence chose to celebrate what he had gained.

Looking at Jowita, he explained that one of the most important parts of the experience had been meeting an incredible person.

He also spoke about the sense of family, love and joy that surrounded the programme every week.

Then came his message to the remaining contestants:

“You’ve already won.”

Lawrence explained that simply having the opportunity to take part in Strictly was an achievement in itself, and anything beyond that was an added bonus.

His words offered a glimpse into how much the experience had changed his perspective.

The emotional moment that brought Jowita closer

As Lawrence continued reflecting on his journey, his emotions became increasingly difficult to contain.

After watching highlights of their time together, he appeared visibly tearful. Jowita reached out and held his hand, offering comfort as he struggled to finish his thoughts.

For the pair, the partnership had become about much more than rehearsals and performances.

Lawrence also described the challenge of entering the competition without knowing ballroom or Latin dancing, then having to learn new routines in just a few days before performing in front of millions of viewers.

He called the entire experience “wild”, acknowledging just how extraordinary the journey had been.

Why Lawrence Robb was eliminated

The actor’s departure came after a particularly controversial weekend on the BBC programme.

During the Halloween special, Lawrence and Jowita performed a Tango to the Ghostbusters theme, earning 26 points out of 40 from the judges.

Despite not finishing at the bottom of the judges’ leaderboard, they found themselves in the bottom three alongside:

• Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu

• Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu

In an unprecedented format change, all three couples had to perform again in a dance-off.

The judges were then asked to choose which couple they wanted to eliminate rather than simply choosing which pair to save.

Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood all voted against Lawrence and Jowita. Motsi Mabuse also said she would have made the same decision.

The result brought their Strictly journey to an end.

Fans question the controversial three-way dance-off

The unusual format quickly sparked debate among viewers.

Some fans argued that placing three couples in the dance-off when only one would be eliminated was unfair, particularly because Lawrence and Jowita had not previously faced a dance-off.

Others questioned why the BBC had introduced the change and whether it had made the elimination process unnecessarily difficult for the contestants.

The debate continued after Lawrence’s emotional interview, with viewers expressing sympathy for the pair and praising the bond they had developed throughout the series.

A partnership that meant more than a competition

Although Lawrence’s time on Strictly has ended, his final message was not one of bitterness.

He spoke warmly about Jowita, the production team and the people who had made the experience so special.

For someone who started the competition with no ballroom or Latin dance experience, reaching the live shows and performing for millions was already a remarkable personal achievement.

And perhaps that is why his three-word message resonated so strongly.

“You’ve already won.”

Sometimes, the most meaningful part of a competition isn’t the trophy at the end. It’s the people you meet, the confidence you discover and the memories you take home.