Just weeks before his suicide, poignant picture of Gary Speed sitting with his wife as they cheer Robbie Savage on Strictly

By KERRY MCQUEENEY



A picture of happiness: Gary and Louise Speed smile as they cheer on friend Robbie Savage during his performance on Strictly Come Dancing just weeks ago



Smiling and clapping enthusiastically, Gary Speed looks happy and upbeat as he and wife Louise cheer on friend Robbie Savage in the Strictly Come Dancing studio.

The couple were the very image of contentment in the audience as they applauded and gasped in delight during Savage's performance with dance partner Ola Jordan.

The images are even more poignant since they were captured just weeks before the football hero was found hanged at his home. His body was discovered by Louise last Sunday morning.



Support: Speed is seen giving Savage a high-five after his routine. His upbeat appearance in the studio makes his death last weekend all the more puzzling



This picture is thought to be the last time the couple were photographed in public before his untimely death in an apparent suicide.

His appearance on Strictly was also the last time that Savage saw his former Wales colleague and close friend.

Savage, 36, has now vowed to dedicate his performance on tomorrow night's show in memory of the Welsh legend.



'Still in shock': Robbie Savage has dedicated his performance to friend Speed



He promised to deliver a polished routine which would 'make Speedo proud', he announced on Twitter.

He posted: 'So hard to concentrate on dancing this week. Head’s all over the place. Going to be so emotional, the last place I seen Speedo was in studio. I’m going to make him proud of his mate.'

He added: '(Gary) loved Strictly. My performance is for him, still stunned!'

The last time Savage saw his friend was in the Strictly studio on October 22, when 42-year-old Speed and his wife Louise, 41, sat beaming in the audience.



Online outburst: Robbie Savage tweets about his friend Gary Speed in a series of posts on Twitter



When Savage's routine with Ola Jordan was over, the couple gave him a standing ovation and Speed gave his friend a high-five.

Savage, who is in the final six in the BBC1 show, posted a picture of Speed sitting in the front row of Strictly.

He tweeted: 'This was just 4 weeks ago – great picture me and Speedo doing a hi 5 !!'

A tearful Savage said of Speed in an interview for BBC News last Sunday: ‘He had a caring, loving family and was doing great at his job. Why has this happened? It’s the most incredible news I’ve heard in my lifetime.'



'Strictly Come Dancing has been great for me for so many reasons but the thing I'm so grateful for is that now I will always have a picture in my head of Gary smiling in the front row when he came to the show a few weeks ago.

'So thanks, Strictly. And thank you for everything, Gary.'











source: dailymail