Many Strictly Come Dancing viewers were moved to tears while watching Sunday’s results show on BBC One
20:36, 09 Nov 2025Updated 20:52, 09 Nov 2025
Sam Fender performs at BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
He didn’t even appear on Sunday night’s Strictly Come Dancing, but Sam Fender left many viewers in tears as they tuned in from home. And it’s all to do with the fact that one of his tracks was used as the soundtrack for an incredibly moving performance to mark Remembrance Sunday.
Hours after people all over the country fell silent to remember our military heroes, Strictly, as it does every year, paid its own tribute, as millions watched. As the show’s talented pros took to the floor, their emotionally charged group number was soundtracked by Remember My Name, the song that North Shields musician Sam wrote about his late grandparents, from the perspective of his granddad as he cared for his grandma, who suffered from dementia.
Sam famously had thousands of people wiping away tears when he joined forces with Easington Colliery Brass Band to perform it at his sold out gigs at St James’ Park in Newcastle in June and, while it was the Strictly singers who performed it on Sunday night, the combination of sam’s words and the beautifully choreographed routine was enough to evoke the same reaction in living rooms across the land. Taking to X to react, one Strictly fan wrote: ‘dancing to remember my name by sam fender on Strictly making me VERY emotional’ as a second, always choking back tears, commented: ‘my fav sam fender song played by the air force band with the amazing dancers, what a moment.’
The Strictly pros danced to Sam’s song Remember My Name for Remembrance Day(Image: BBC)
Sam wasn’t the only North East star to command attention on Sunday night’s Strictly results show. After topping the leaderboard on Saturday, thanks to her and pro partner Kai Widdrington getting 39 out of 40 for their tango, Vicky Pattison looked delighted to find out they’d made it through to next week.
And, with Blackpool just two weeks away now, the ex I’m A Celebrity winner opened up on her emotional reason for wanting to get there. Speaking to host Claudia Winkleman, Vicky explained: My grandma and grandad used to dance at Blackpool and they’re no longer with us. It would mean a lot to me to be there, dance in the same place they did and sort of do them proud in that way.”
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