Strictly Come Dancing 2022 champion, Hamza Yassin, shared his heartfelt emotions on Thursday when discussing his journey on the show.
The 34-year-old wildlife cameraman turned TV presenter joined BBC Morning Live to reflect on life post Strictly and was overwhelmed with emotion when shown highlights of his winning performance.
Hamza admitted as the clip played: “There’s so much emotion, just watching it now I’ve not really paid much attention to it, I’ve not gone back and watched it. So seeing it here and seeing the music, it brings back so much memories and joy.”
Though he confessed: “But yeah, nerves, I was always nervous, always nervous!” The Morning Live presenters expressed their surprise, responding: “Were you? I couldn’t tell!”
In the same interview, Hamza touched upon the upcoming first elimination of Strictly Come Dancing 2024, empathising with this year’s contestants about the anxiety it brings, reports the Express.
Remembering his own “nerve-racking” experience, he said: “I remember Jowita [Przystal – his pro dance partner] and I had this little thing we would do. I’d hold her thumb so we’re standing as a partner, it was just my go to, I’m just going: ‘Please, please, please I just want our names [going through to next week]'”, sharing that he felt relief each time they progressed.
Hamza candidly revealed that at the outset of the competition, he felt pessimistic about his chances, stating: “To be perfectly honest, week one I was like: ‘Yeah, that’s me going out.’ Hand on heart, I thought every single week this is the week I’d go out.”
It comes as Strictly Come Dancing’s Toyah Willcox could be in for an early exit this weekend as she was the bookies’ favourite to leave Strictly earlier this week. Toyah is the 6-4 favourite with bookmaker Coral to be the first contestant to leave Strictly Come Dancing this weekend.
The actress and musician tops the betting ahead of Paul Merson, who is at 7-2 to leave, and Nick Knowles, who is 9-2 to depart.
Meanwhile, fellow contestant Nick is uncertain about his ability to strut his stuff on Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday, September 28, following a shoulder and arm injury – he’ll learn if he can proceed on Thursday afternoon.
While swapping a tyre, the DIY SOS frontman was injured but has continued practising with professional partner Luba Mushtuk, proving to bosses he can still glide through the American Smooth on Saturday evening.
Strictly Come Dancing continues this Saturday at 6:15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.