Strictly Come Dancing's 5 biggest stories this week: Tony Adams quits and celebs in tears

It's been the most dramatic week yet on Strictly Come Dancing 2022 - one celebrity quit, two more and a judge were in tears, and the show is finally about to head back to Blackpool.

Viewers who missed last weekend's live show have a lot to catch up on, so get up to speed on everything that happened on and off the dancefloor this week.

The 5 biggest stories from Strictly Come Dancing this week

Tony Adams quits Strictly Come Dancing

It's always a sad day when a contestant has to quit Strictly, and this series Tony Adams was the unlucky person who had to withdraw.

Former footballer Adams found himself in the bottom two with Tyler West on Sunday's show, but moments before the dance off was due to take place, host Tess Daly announced that he had pulled out with an injury.

Read more: Tony Adams and 10 other celebs who had to quit Strictly early

Having been spotted arguing with partner Katya Jones earlier in the week, the pair put on a united front as Adams said: “It’s been emotional guys, I cried for the first month. I came in here with one message, if you’ve got an issue with mental health, with addiction, then please don’t suffer in silence and reach out for help. Little did I know that I was going to learn a lot about myself in the process.

"I thought this ‘journey’ rubbish was nonsense, but my god the rollercoaster of emotion. I’ve got to be honest, it’s tough, physically it’s really tough out there, but dancing is really fantastic for you. Go out there and enjoy it and pick up new skills and explore."

Kym Marsh and Will Mellor in tears on the live show

Adams' exit was far from the only emotional moment in the weekend's Strictly shows, as Kym Marsh and Will Mellor both put in emotional performances with heartbreaking stories behind them.

Marsh danced an American Smooth to Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars, a song that she explained meant a lot to her family because of its significance during the time that she lost newborn son Archie.

Read more: Why do we apologise when we cry like Strictly's Will Mellor?

She said: "This is actually very special to us as a family because it reminds us of my son Archie. I gave birth to him prematurely and unfortunately he died shortly after he was born.

"I feel like by doing this dance not only is it going to be in memory of Archie but it also might hopefully get people talking about their own experiences, because it's the right road to putting your life back together."

But it was also a tough week for Mellor, who danced a Walts to the Commodores' Three Times A Lady - which his late father used to sing to his mother.

He was too overcome by tears to speak after dancing, but partner Nancy Xu explained: "We wanted to dedicate this dance to anyone who lost their loved ones and didn't get a chance to say goodbye."

'I never in my life thought I'd see this on Strictly'

Meanwhile, over on the judges' bench, Motsi Mabuse was also brought to tears over Hamza Yassin's couple's choice routine that paid tribute to Africa.

She said: "I feel like maybe sometimes some people will not even understand. I never in my life thought I would see this on Strictly Come Dancing.

"As you know I come from South Africa and you know the origins of so many of our dances, even today, Charleston, Salsa, Rumba, Jive, all of these dances from where they originated from and to have this acknowledgment on this big stage, to remind people we are here, we are dancing, we are celebrating and to see you do that, for me is such a special, special, special feeling."

Blackpool is back

It's the week Strictly fans have been waiting for since 2019 - we're heading back to Blackpool!

For the past couple of years, a trip up North has been off the cards because of COVID travel restrictions, but now the show is finally making its annual pilgrimage back to the home of ballroom dancing.

Read more: Why is Blackpool so important to Strictly?

The remaining couples will get the chance to dance at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom which has hosted some of the world's best dancers in championships, as well as Come Dancing, the classic contest that Strictly was based on.

It's guaranteed to be a very special week on Strictly.

Strictly couple set to marry

And finally, a former Strictly couple had some happy news to share this week.

Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff, who danced together in 2013, announced their engagement after a holiday in the Maldives.

The couple were hit by the Strictly curse when they met on the show as Cohen was already married to Abby Blayney, who he has twin daughters with, and left her for Rihanoff.

He now has a six-year-old daughter with his former dance partner and told Hello!: "Love has different meanings and for me, that's a relationship with a partner who's been through difficult times with me and together we move forward. She's the person I want in my life forever."

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 7.45pm on BBC One.

Watch: Will Mellor apologises for Strictly tears