Children in Need 2023 viewers were left in tears after watching Strictly’s Nadiya Bychkova perform with visually impaired teen Brianna during Friday’s live show.
The professional dancer, 34, choreographed the routine and both looked sensational as they took to the stage in matching silver gowns.
The One Show’s Alex Jones introduced the segment that featured a video explaining the 16-year-old Briana’s health conditions, which include sight and heart problems.
It was then revealed Brianna has suffered bullying at school as well as self esteem issues before finding confidence at a charity funded by Children in Need.
With the teen saying: ‘Nobody wanted to be around me, and I just thought I wasn’t supposed to have friends. And that is something I still struggle with’.
Stunning: Children in Need viewers were left in tears after watching Strictly’s Nadiya Bychkova (L) perform with visually impaired teen Brianna (R) during Friday’s live show
Routine: The professional dancer, 34, had choreographed the routine and both ladies looked sensational as they took to the stage in matching silver gowns
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer said: ‘Said I wouldn’t cry this year… here I am crying at this beautiful dance’.
While a second wrote: ‘What a beautiful dance, I hope she feels a million dollars!’.
Someone else declared that they were ‘bawling’.
And: ‘Well done brianna and Nadia, that dance was lovely’.
Another typed: ‘Omg just watched Briana dance to Tomorrow on Children in Need, beautiful girl’.
While a sixth said: ‘That dance that Nadiya Bychkova choreographed was just beautiful’.
The charity’s 43rd appeal show raised an incredible £33.5million.
Commenting on the evening, Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive at BBC Children in Need, said: ‘The overwhelming kindness and generosity shown this evening – especially when things are incredibly hard for so many – is remarkable.
Beautiful: The One Show’s Alex Jones introduced the segment with a video explaining the 16-year-old’s health conditions, which include sight and heart problems
Dancer: It was then revealed that Brianna has suffered bullying at school as well as self esteem issues before finding confidence at a charity funded by Children in Need
Emotion: Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer said: ‘Said I wouldn’t cry this year… here I am crying at this beautiful dance’
‘I want to thank the UK for once again showing children and young people that we are here for them. To each and every person that gave so generously this evening, thank you.’
Elsewhere in the show, host Alex Scott became overcome with emotion and broke down in tears.
The sports presenter, 39, took to the stage with Chris Ramsey to host the annual telethon, which raises money for charities helping disadvantaged children.
The BBC fundraising live show features pre-recorded clips of families and young people talking about their struggles and how Children In Need has helped them.
And Alex choked back tears after she watched a young boy called Shay discuss his struggles with Tourette’s syndrome.
Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition characterised by a combination of involuntary noises and movements called tics and usually starts during childhood.
Shay spoke about how he felt ‘lonely’ due to his Tourette’s because he didn’t know any other young people who were having the same struggles as him.
Tearful: Elsewhere in the show host Alex Scott became overcome with emotion and broke down in tears
His mother said: ‘He was petrified of his own shadow,’ while his father added: ‘He didn’t want to go out, he shut himself away because he was afraid of what people were thinking. Even with us, he was different.’
Shay then opened up how Children In Need had helped him by enabling him to go to Tourettes Action’s Ticfest, where he met other young people with Tourette’s.
Flashing back to Alex in the live studio, she then choked back tears as she became overwhelmed with emotion at Shay’s story.
Alex had to pause for a moment as she struggled to speak through her tears, while her co-host Chris Ramsey comforted her.
She then said: ‘Without Children In Need, Shay wouldn’t have met other children who share the same difficulties that he has faced. As his mum and dad said, your donations have helped them get their son back.’