'Balling my eyes out' Strictly's Kai Widdrington in tearful backstage moment with AJ Odudu
KAI WIDDRINGTON has opened up about an emotional moment behind the scenes on Strictly.
Strictly: AJ Odudu breaks down over her injury before the final
Strictly Come Dancing star Kai Widdrington, 26, addressed a candid moment he shared backstage with show finalist AJ Odudu, 33. It comes after the dancing duo's place in the final hangs in the balance after AJ suffered a foot injury.
The TV presenter revealed she has been forced to cancel training due to her foot being injured following a torn ligament.
It has resulted in the on-screen personality being unable to stand up without the use of crutches.
But as the countdown to the final has begun, the northern-born star's dance partner has addressed the moment he broke down in tears.
Speaking with Strictly It Takes Two host Rylan Clark, Kai admitted he is never one to cry.
READ MORE: Strictly's AJ Odudu breaks down in tears after 'torn ligament'
The BBC host asked: "What has been your highlight on Strictly?"
Kai replied: "My Strictly highlight is a mixture of week one and last week's Quickstep.
"I think it's the best I've ever felt dancing with [AJ].
"I remember coming off the dancefloor with you and walking around the back after speaking with Claudia [Winkleman] where I was absolutely balling my eyes out."
"For no reason other than that [AJ] is so amazing," he continued.
"The fact that she has come back from a dance-off last week with our back against the ropes.
"If we had done the lift wrong we could have been out before the final."
AJ and her dancer partner Kai have gone from strength to strength during the competition.
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"The fact that we came back and did the Quickstep at that level - I say we, but it's you - the grit and determination really moved me," Kai remarked.
He went on: "Look, I don't cry ever. I'm not in touch with that side but it all really hit us. And we got a score of 40 as well.
"I can pick any week and I feel that it was an iconic moment."
Kai went on to praise AJ for remaining determined in the competition despite the setbacks.
"But for me, AJ has shown the type of person that she is," he mused.
"She's strong, she has character. That should mean a lot to other people."
AJ, Rose Ayling-Ellis and John Whaite will battle it out along with their dance partners in a bid to impress the judges, but only one of them will lift the Glitterball Trophy in tonight's final.
Strictly Come Dancing airs tonight on BBC One at 7pm.