Lawrence Robb fights back tears after Strictly triple dance-off exit

Lawrence Robb was left fighting back tears as he reflected on his abrupt exit from Strictly Come Dancing, according to the Mirror ^[1]. The Emmerdale star appeared on the spin-off show It Takes Two, where the emotional weight of his departure was palpable. He and his professional partner Jowita Przystał were eliminated following a controversial first-ever triple dance-off on Sunday night.

Despite not sitting at the bottom of the judges' leaderboard, the pair were sent home by Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood. The Daily Star reported that the judging panel was required to select who to eliminate, with three judges opting to remove Lawrence and Jowita ^[2]. This decision sparked outrage among viewers, who took to social media to claim the outcome was predetermined. One fan told the Mirror that the twist felt "all planned to get rid of him" ^[1].

During his interview with host Ellie Taylor, Lawrence admitted the experience was raw. He confessed that he had been "semi in my head on borrowed time" after nearly facing the dance-off the previous week ^[2]. However, he described the final moment as bittersweet, noting that despite the elimination, the overwhelming support from the cast made it feel like they had won something. "Everyone gives you a cuddle and it felt like we did win something," he said.

Lawrence spoke fondly of meeting Jowita, calling her an "incredible person" and highlighting the sense of family the show brought. He reflected on the sheer scale of the achievement, noting that learning ballroom and Latin dancing in just three and a half days and performing to millions was "wild" ^[1]. He emphasised that simply completing Strictly is an achievement in itself, with any further success being the icing on the cake.

The actor also revealed that the dramatic lift of Jowita onto his shoulders during their Tango to Ghostbusters was entirely his idea. Jowita confirmed she was on board and managed to dismount gracefully despite her dress ^[2]. While he tried to enjoy the final week as much as possible, the impact of the triple dance-off format remained a point of contention. Fans criticised the format as "stupid" and "ridiculous," arguing that Lawrence had been making significant progress ^[1].

As the segment concluded, Lawrence visibly struggled to hold back tears while watching his highlight reel. Jowita stepped in to comfort him, clasping his hand as they shared a quiet moment of solidarity. His exit leaves the remaining couples in the competition to navigate the intense final weeks without their soap opera favourite.