Cheryl has said she was moved to tears watching back last week’s episode of The Greatest Dancer and seeing its host’s reaction to a nine-year-old being voted through.

The former Girls Aloud star said Diversity dancer Jordan Banjo’s emotional response to the boy’s contemporary dance routine to Rule The World by Take That left her in tears.

Speaking on The One Show on BBC One, the singer, 35, said seeing the boy, Fionn, voted through to the live stage of the competition had “moved” her.

However, it was only when she watched the show again at home that she found herself overcome, “tipped” over the edge by Banjo’s ecstatic reaction.

She said: “Honesty, when I watched the show back, as well, watching Jordan who I think is incredible on the show, his facial expressions, when the mirrors opened for little Fionn, I started crying at home.

“I’d already watched little Fionn and I felt moved and I didn’t cry but Jordan tipped me over the edge. He’s so passionate.”

Cheryl is one of the dance captains on The Greatest Dancer, alongside Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse and Glee and Broadway star Matthew Morrison.

She also spoke of her respect for professional dancers, who she said were “like athletes”.

She added: “They break their bodies. They are literally like athletes. They are training 12-hour days, hurting themselves, it’s just all for the passion.”

She also revealed that she, Mabuse and Morrison would dance with contestants in the live stage of the competition.

The Greatest Dancer continues next Saturday on BBC One.