Strictly Come Dancing's Will Bayley and Janette Manrara leave Motsi Mabuse in floods of tears after emotional dance

Paralympian Will Bayley and Janette Manrara left judge Motsi Mabuse speechless and in tears after an emotional dance this evening.

The gold medallist, 31, and the Strictly pro, 35, danced a contemporary number to Seven Years by Lukas Graham.

Moments later, as the judges gave their review of the performance, Mabuse broke down in tears and was hugged by Bayley.

Head judge Shirley Ballas then took over and said: “Well this is you. You came out here, you shared your journey, I’m sure every child in every children’s hospital is looking at that today and has discovered no matter what you put your mind to, you can do it and get extreme circumstances­.

“You are inspiring, you give the whole nation hope. It was a beautiful number and was so well executed. Congratulations.”

Ahead of the dance, Bayley discussed his childhood battle with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, and his arthrogryposis diagnosis – a condition which affects all four of his limbs.

Speaking during the programme, Bayley said: “I was born with a condition called arthrogryposis, it affects my hands and my feet.

“I had to have them broken and then put into place, but there was nothing the surgeons could do with my hands.

“When I was seven-years-old I went to Great Ormond Street and they diagnosed me with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. As a seven-year-old to have cancer is so scary, but the doctors and the nurses were just amazing and they gave me positivity. I just had so much support and love around me.”

He and Manrara paid a visit to the ward where he was treated for cancer when he was younger and met several patients.

The emotional video showed one youngster handing the duo a mock – up of a glitterball trophy and Bayley saying he was dedicating the dance to the staff and patients there.

After the dance, special guest judge Alfonso Ribeiro was left speechless for a moment and held back tears before saying: “You brought chills, you gave me chills. That was incredibly inspiring. There are young boys and girls who will watch that performance and know that anything is possible.”

Judge Craig Revel-Horwood said: “Clear, emotional story-telling and absolutely a complete inspiration. It really, really is. You do need a little bit more free movement in your torso, that will help tell the story…but I thought the whole thing was great, it really, really was.”

The duo were then awarded a total of 32 points by the judges.

When he was revealed as a contestant on the show, Bayley said: “I’m so proud to be on the show, it’s my family’s favourite show.

"I have no dance experience at all, but I hope I can do well. I want to inspire people with a disability - that would mean a lot to me. I want to prove to people I can do this.”

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