The glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing 2025 have already swept audiences off their feet, but it’s the heartfelt moments behind the scenes that are stealing hearts this season. Geordie star Vicky Pattison, one of this year’s dazzling contestants, was left in floods of tears after a touching social media post by professional dancer Lauren Oakley revealed a beautiful, unseen moment from the Strictly ballroom.
Lauren, who is partnered with football legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, has been wowing judges and fans alike. The pair’s chemistry on the dancefloor earned them an impressive score of 25, securing seventh place on the leaderboard in the early weeks of the competition. But it was a moment away from the spotlight that had everyone, including Vicky, reaching for the tissues.
In a heartwarming video shared on social media, Lauren was seen gliding across the Strictly dancefloor with an older gentleman named Mark, her mother’s lifelong dance partner. The clip, captioned with a story that tugged at the heartstrings, revealed the deep bond between Lauren and Mark. “They danced together from when they were 6, won lots of titles, and they are still dance partners today,” Lauren wrote. “He’s supported me at every competition growing up, and all the way through my professional on-stage and Strictly career. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to dance a Waltz with him on the Strictly floor during the pre-records, a special moment indeed.”
The emotional weight of this moment resonated deeply with fans and fellow Strictly stars. Vicky Pattison, who recently admitted to feeling “overwhelmed” while tackling her challenging Charleston routine, was moved to tears, commenting, “Why did this make me cry?” She wasn’t alone. Professional dancer Gorka Marquez echoed her sentiments, calling the moment “so beautiful.” Fans flooded the post with heartfelt reactions, with one writing, “Oh I filled up reading this, beautiful. How lovely.” Another called it “stunningly beautiful,” while a third described it as “an incredibly special and beautiful moment, a full circle moment.”
The video captured a rare glimpse of the personal connections that fuel the passion of Strictly’s professionals, reminding everyone that beneath the sequins and scores lies a world of meaningful stories. For Lauren, sharing the Strictly floor with Mark was a dream come true, a tribute to a mentor who has been by her side through every step of her journey.
As the competition heats up, Lauren and Jimmy are set to bring the drama to Movie Week with a sultry Rumba to No Time to Die from the James Bond franchise. The Strictly stage will also come alive with other show-stopping performances, including Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola’s vibrant Samba to Dance the Night from Barbie, and Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin’s elegant American Smooth to Sixteen Going on Seventeen from The Sound of Music. Meanwhile, actor Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell will perform a romantic Waltz to It Is You (I Have Loved) from Shrek, and Chris Robshaw and Nadia Bychkova will ignite the floor with a fiery Paso Doble to Sweet Child O’ Mine from Thor.
With emotions running high and the competition fiercer than ever, Strictly Come Dancing continues to deliver unforgettable moments both on and off the dancefloor. Tune in this weekend to see which stars shine brightest—and keep a tissue handy for those heartwarming surprises that make Strictly so special.