Strictly fans convinced Lawrence Robb nearly kissed Carlos Gu during live results show

A fleeting moment between Lawrence Robb and Carlos Gu has left Strictly Come Dancing viewers doing a double take.

The Emmerdale actor appeared to lean in for what some fans believed could have been a kiss with professional dancer Carlos Gu during the results show, just moments after Lawrence learned that he and his partner Jowita Przystał were safe from the dance-off.

The brief exchange happened as the celebrities gathered on the floor while the remaining couples waited to discover who would face elimination.

Fans spot unexpected moment between Lawrence and Carlos

Lawrence, 34, was visibly relieved after he and Jowita, 32, were told they had made it through.

The Emmerdale star then headed towards Carlos, 32, to celebrate and embrace the professional dancer.

As they hugged, however, viewers noticed Lawrence holding Carlos’s face in what appeared to be a particularly affectionate gesture. Lawrence then seemed to lean towards him before the camera moved away.

The moment lasted only briefly, but that was enough for some Strictly fans to start discussing what they had seen online.

One viewer said they had watched the results show with their family and that their father was convinced Lawrence had looked as though he was about to kiss Carlos when the dance-off contestants were announced.

Another fan said they had noticed the same thing, describing it as an unusual moment.

There was no indication on the programme that Lawrence and Carlos were doing anything beyond celebrating the result together, and the apparent near-kiss remains the interpretation of viewers who spotted the exchange.

Lawrence and Jowita survive the first elimination

Lawrence is competing in the 2026 series with Jowita Przystał, having been paired with the professional dancer ahead of the live shows.

The Scottish actor is best known for playing Mackenzie Boyd in Emmerdale. He has also appeared in I Hate Suzie and performed on stage in productions including Legally Blonde: The Musical.

His Strictly pairing with Jowita was among the 15 celebrity-professional partnerships confirmed for this year’s competition.

The pair’s place in the competition was secured while another couple faced the first elimination of the series.

Chris Appleton becomes first celebrity to leave

The first celebrity eliminated from the series was hairdresser Chris Appleton, 43, who was partnered with Amy Dowden.

Chris and Amy performed a Cha Cha to I’ll Be Ready from Baywatch, but they ultimately failed to secure enough support to remain in the competition.

They were sent home after facing the dance-off, bringing Chris’s Strictly journey to an emotional end. Reports of the results confirm that Appleton and Dowden were eliminated after losing the dance-off to Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu.

For Carlos, the result meant a very different evening. He had helped Jaime Winstone through the dance-off while also sharing the emotional aftermath with his fellow celebrities and professionals.

Chris reflects on his Strictly experience

Speaking after his elimination, Chris admitted that taking part in Strictly had pushed him well beyond the world he knew.

The 43-year-old has built his career as a celebrity hairdresser, but said entering the competition had challenged him in ways he had not expected.

He also spoke warmly about Amy, describing their partnership as one of the most important things he would take away from the experience.

Chris said:

“It’s been such a whirlwind of emotion, I’m 43, I got good at what I’m doing which is hair and to come into something like this, I felt so out of my comfort zone.”

He went on to explain that the competition had allowed him to see himself differently and had tested him in ways he had never anticipated.

Chris thanked the celebrities, cast and crew for making the experience so special, adding that Strictly was a programme he had grown up watching and that he felt proud to have been part of it.

He also singled out Amy, saying that having her as a friend was the most important thing he would take from the show.

“I already wish I did better for her because she deserves to go further in the competition,” he said.

Strictly continues

With Chris now out of the competition, Lawrence and Jowita remain among the couples competing for the Glitterball Trophy.

Lawrence joined the 2026 cast as the 12th celebrity announced for the series and previously described appearing on Strictly as a dream come true.

The actor has already attracted attention for his dance background, having trained in musical theatre, although he has stressed that he had never trained in Latin or ballroom dancing.

For now, the attention is back on Lawrence and Carlos after that fleeting moment on the results show. Whether it was simply an affectionate celebration or something more remains open to interpretation, but Strictly viewers certainly noticed it.

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One.