Will Mellor on Strictly criticism controversy: 'I'm just human'

Will Mellor has spoken out on the controversy surrounding his reaction to being criticised in the Strictly Come Dancing semi final, saying: "I'm just human."

The actor and his dance partner Nancy Xu were voted out in the semi final of the BBC One show after a double performance that included a Paso Doble, and a 90s-themed couple's choice routine.

However, Mellor's reaction to harsh criticism from the judges on his Paso Doble divided viewers as some claimed he looked angry at the judges' comments, while others thought he was just disappointed in himself.

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As host Claudia Winkleman asked how he felt following the critique, he said: "Rubbish. I've worked hard and I've let (Xu) down. I'm not fishing for compliments, she taught me right and I've gone too aggressive, she told me to be calm and I forgot a few fundamentals.

"I tried, but it's tough, isn't it, the semi-finals. We're all in the same boat though, I should have done better."

Some viewers commented that they felt "uncomfortable" watching his reaction, but Mellor appeared on Monday's Strictly: It Takes Two after being voted out and explained more about what had happened.

Read more: All the Strictly winners and finalists so far

He said: "I am just human, everyone who meets me gets to meet me, I don’t have another person I can put on.

"I was disappointed, I’d worked so hard and we’d got so far in the competition, the last thing I wanted to do was get it wrong that night.

"From what the judges said, I beat myself up, and I’ve watched it back and I was too harsh on myself. I have always said what I really care most about, is making sure this lady next to me (Xu) is happy, if she is happy, I am happy."

Xu reassured him, saying: "For me, he did everything I asked him to do, the passion, the drama, everything. He did me so proud, for me, I will give him as many 10s as I have!"

The judges voted to save Fleur East and Vito Coppola in the dance off, sending them through to the final alongside Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal, Helen Skelton and Gorka Marquez, and Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu.

Strictly Come Dancing's final is on Saturday at 7.05pm on BBC One.

Watch: Will Mellor apologises for Strictly tears