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Strictly axed ice themed group dance in respect of victims of Solihull lake tragedy

Albertina Lloyd
·Contributor
·3-min read
Strictly Come Dancing logo
Strictly Come Dancing cut its ice themed group dance as a mark of respect. (BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing bosses decided to cut the group dance from the semi-final results show following the death of three boys who fell into a frozen lake in Solihull.

The pre-recorded sequence featured the professional dancers dressed as snowflakes and judge Craig Revel Horwood in drag as The Snow Queen.

Host Tess Daly teased the upcoming group dance on Sunday night's show, but after the tragedy in Solihull on Sunday night, the pre-recorded segment was cut from Monday's show as a mark of respect to the families of the children who died.

Read more: Strictly reveals 2022 final songs and dances

A BBC spokesperson said: "In light of tragic news events, we took the decision not to broadcast the group dance on this week's results show."

Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood
Craig Revel Horwood had been due to perform in drag as The Snow Queen. (BBC)

Jack Johnson, 10, and two other boys – aged eight and 11 – passed away at Babbs Mill Park after being pulled from the water.

A fourth boy, aged six, remains in critical condition in hospital.

Charlotte McIlmurray, the aunt of Jack Johnson, who is reported to have been trying to save others who fell into the water near Birmingham, used a social media post to thank members of the community for their support.

In a post on social media, Jack’s aunt, Charlotte McIlmurray, described the tragedy as a “nightmare”, adding “that two families can’t wake from the pain is unimaginable”.

Emergency workers continue the search for further victims after a number of children fell through ice on a lake, on December 12, 2022 at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull, England. Three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 have died after falling through an icy lake last night. The search continued for more potential victims, following reports more children were present on the ice at the time of the incident. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Three boys died and a fourth remains critical after falling through the ice at Babbs Mill Park in Solihull. (Getty Images)

“He (Jack) was my nephew, so I know the pain is a million times worse for their moms, dads, sisters/brothers,” she added.

West Midlands Police’s Chelmsley Wood neighbourhood policing team were among the first rescuers on the scene and one had tried to punch through the ice to reach the youngsters.

The officers were in tears as they were applauded by the public as they laid flowers near to where three boys died after falling into an ice-covered lake.

A group of 21 officers from West Midlands Police’s Chelmsley Wood neighbourhood policing team marched to the makeshift shrine.

21 Officers from West Midlands Police lay bouquets of flowers and stood in silence near to the scene in Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst, Solihull, after the deaths of three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 who fell through ice into a lake in the West Midlands. Picture date: Tuesday December 13, 2022. (Photo by Richard Vernalls/PA Images via Getty Images)
Police officers lay flowers near to the scene in Babbs Mill Park in Solihull, after the deaths of three boys aged eight, 10 and 11 who fell through ice into a lake. (Getty Images)

Numerous bunches of flowers left near the scene included tributes from the emergency services, the NHS, local politicians, Marston Green FC and friends of the boys.

Read more: Schoolgirl, 13, used tree branch in desperate attempt to save boys in frozen Solihull lake

Solihull Police also tweeted its “heartfelt thanks” to the community for its “overwhelming” support offered to all branches of the emergency services who attended the rescue and since.

Watch: BBC presenter breaks down announcing deaths of children in Solihull lake tragedy