The comedian had us all crying with her gorgeous tribute (Picture: BBC)
There truly was not a dry eye in a household across the country following Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer’s American smooth on Strictly Come Dancing this week.
The comedian had fans cheering at their TVs last Saturday with a fierce body-positive Flashdance cha cha cha.
But there was a change of pace for week four as she danced to Bette Midler classic, Wind Beneath My Wings, which she dedicated to her sister, who died 11 years ago.
Jenna Adams previously suffered a seizure out of the blue, leading to doctors discovering a tumour in her brain.
Jayde used to dance with her big sister, competing in disco contests and even going on to be crowned champions at a caravan park tournament.
Confiding in pro dancer Karen during training this week, an emotional Jayde said in her VT: ‘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 in the living room.
Jayde recalled how special the Bette Midler track was for her and her family (Picture: BBC)
Head judge Shirley was overcome with emotion (Picture: BBC)
Viewers were in bits as Jayde shared her memories of her late sister (Picture: BBC)
‘The lyrics to that song really resonate. She was two years older than me and she died 11 years ago. I didn’t just lose a sister, I lost a best friend, I lost my dance partner… her telling me to make everyone laugh was my calling.
‘When my sister said, “That’s what you are here to do now,” I knew what my place was in the world.’
She added that ‘this song in particular is very special to me and my family,’ saying she hoped to ‘do it justice,’ and justice is certainly what she did it.
Head judge Shirley Ballas was overcome with emotion following Jayde’s dance, telling her how ‘proud’ her sister would be of her.
‘Jayde, I feel like you’re my hero,’ she began.
The couple scored 31 points with their American smooth (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)
The former Adele tribute act was also overjoyed to be able to lift her partner for the first time (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)
‘I think, everything I’ve watched about you and everything I see on the floor, you know, you represented in this number, everyone who’s lost a loved one and I’m just really, really emotional.’
And the tears didn’t stop there, as Jayde went on to speak to Claudia Winkleman about one of the last things Jenna said to her mum before her death.
‘Something she said to my mum before she died, she said, “Do you think people will forget me?”, and you just said her name on this, and it’s incredible,’ the teary star said.
‘I just think it’s amazing and I feel so lucky that I get to do this, because so many people lose people and grief is so difficult and it’s 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 that anyone could ever give me and my family.’
Jayde, 37, earned a score of 31 points for her beautiful performance, and viewers at home were eager to give her their votes.
‘I’m a mess!’, one emotional viewer declared, while another tweeted: ‘Don’t mind me – just sobbing after Jayde and Karen’s dance on Strictly.’
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‘We should never stop speaking the names of loved ones who have died. Seeing Jayde’s response when Claudia said Jenna’s name articulated that beautifully. Never forgotten,’ another tweeted.
A fourth hailed: ‘The tears are blinding me…such a gorgeous dance from Jayde and a wonderful way to remember her sister.’
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday and Sunday on BBC One.
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Shirley hailed her a ‘hero.’
