Will Mellor recalls losing his dad

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Coronation Street actor Will Mellor appeared on Thursday’s This Morning alongside partner Nancy Xu to discuss his Strictly Come Dancing journey so far. The 46-year-old shared with hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield how “horrendous” it was to lose his father, Bill Mellor, from cancer. The actor said Strictly Come Dancing has given his mother, Shirley Mellor, something to focus on which is why he grabbed the opportunity to take part in the competition by the horns. 

Reflecting on losing his father, Will began: “It was a horrendous time for me and my family, as anyone who has lost someone will know. 

“You’re left with memories and you know what, I just thought he lives in me now and I am just going to create memories.

“I am going to say yes to more things and I am just going to grab life and run with it, and do it in his name.”

Will explained his father’s death has “really changed” his outlook on life. 

“[I] just grab things and do things, go and live and create memories,” Will told ITV viewers. 

He also opened up about wanting to help his mother deal with her grief through his Strictly Come Dancing routines each week as he hopes to remain in the competition for as long as possible.  

“For my mum, she lost my dad, her brother-in-law and her sister-in-law in one year, and it was such a tough time for us all,” Will added. 

“But I was given this opportunity and I thought, I want to do it to create memories and look back and say we did that.” 

Will said he also wanted to take part in the series for his whole family, telling Holly and Phillip his mum looks forward to watching Strictly Come Dancing every week. 

“She’s got a team Will t-shirt she wears every week with my sisters and my family are all behind it, and it’s a journey we are all going on together,” he added. 

The star’s father, Will, suddenly died two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer in 2020. 

Will was unable to comfort his siblings and mother during the heartbreaking time due to social distancing guidelines. 

During an interview with Death in Paradise star Ralf Little on their Two Pints with Will & Ralf podcast, the actor recalled: “He [Bill] sat in a chair outside the back door and I sat up the garden and I didn’t hug him because of the coronavirus thing and he passed away without me doing that. 

“He actually said to me, ‘If I got hold of you I wouldn’t be able to let go.’

“That was one of the last things he said to me and it absolutely killed me.”

Will and Nancy are currently focusing their energies on Halloween Week where they hope to impress the judging panel and viewers at home. 

He made a spectacular comeback last weekend with his Line of Duty-inspired Viennese Waltz after struggling with an illness the previous week. 

Will and Nancy scored an impressive 32 just one week after being at the bottom of the leaderboard.

This weekend the pair will dance a spooky Cha Cha Cha to Tom Jones and Stereophonics’ Mama Told Me Not To Come.

This Morning airs on weekdays from 10am on ITV and Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One. 

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