Strictly Come Dancing: Jayde Adams breaks down after paying tribute to late sister with Bette Midler dance

Bristol comedian Jayde Adams broke down in tears after performing an emotional dance on last night’s Strictly Come Dancing, telling the show’s hosts that being able to pay tribute to her late sister was ‘the greatest gift’. It followed Jayde taking to the dance floor with partner Karen Hauer once again, where the pair tackled an American Smooth to Bette Midler’s tear-jerking ballad Wind Beneath My Wings in matching glittering dresses.

Before the dance, a clip showed Bedminster-born Jayde talking to Karen about how the song, from the film Beaches, was close to her heart as she and her sister Jenna would often dance to Bette Midler songs together before Jenna’s tragic death in 2011.

Jenna was just 23 when she died from an inoperable brain tumour. She would often encourage Jayde, who was two years younger than her, to tell jokes during hospital visits with which the Good Omens star credits her successful career in stand-up comedy.

Jenna, who was a competitive dancer herself, told her family she was worried about ‘being forgotten’ before she died, so being able to fulfil her promise to her sister that she would do her best to keep her name alive by taking part in the prolific dance competition was ‘amazing’ said Jayde, 37.

She told show’s hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman: “Something [Jenna] said to my mum before she died, she said ‘do you think people will forget me?’ and you just said her name on [the show] and it’s incredible.

“I feel so lucky that I get to do this, because so many people lose people and grief is so difficult, and it’s so personal. And to be able to keep the promise that we wouldn’t let people forget her is the most incredible gift that anyone could give me or my family.”

After the performance judge Motsi Mabuse said: “I think she would be so proud of you at this moment”, adding: “Thank you for doing that for everyone who has lost a loved one.”

Tweeting after the show, Jayde posted pictures of her and Jenna, including the last one of them ever taken together.

She said: “Her love for me was strong, I’ll never ever feel unloved. I am beyond grateful to be able to channel grief through art.”