BBC Strictly Come Dancing star holds back tears as fans say show first 'so important'

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left 'in pieces' as Dr Punam Krishan and pro dancer Gorka Márquez performed a couple's choice routine during Saturday night's live show.

The routine was a first-ever for the BBC dance competition and had a special meaning for TV doctor Punam, who dedicated the dance to her late grandfather.

As part of Movies Week, the couple performed a Bollywood dance to the song Bole Chudiyan from the 2001 hit film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which is one of the biggest-grossing Indian films of all time.

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Introducing the dance, presenter Tess Daly confirmed it was the first time ever that a Bollywood routine had been performed on the show as a couple's choice dance.

Punam explained that she wanted to do a Bollywood dance to "bring my culture and my heritage to the forefront". Speaking during rehearsals, she said: "I never saw Indian girls dancing on mainstream television so to be doing now an Indian dance on a platform like Strictly is huge."

The This Morning Live star lost her grandad, who lived in India, during the Covid pandemic and said "he'll be watching and he'll be really proud, as will my mum". She added: "We didn't grow up with much, we didn't have a lot, but we got there."

Judge Motsi Mabuse teared up as she gave her comments to the couple following the high-energy routine. "That really moved me," she said. "I know so many people are watching you right now and feel so proud to see this on Strictly Come Dancing."

Craig Revel-Horwood called the performance "absolutely incredible", while Anton Du Beke claimed it was their "best dance by far".

Asked by host Claudia Winkleman what it meant to her to