Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Jason Bell, who took part in the BBC show back in 2020 alongside professional dancer Luba Mushtuk, has reflected on the importance of having a “good partner” in a new exclusive interview with Reach.
While the pair only made it through a few weeks of the Strictly’s 18th season, they appeared to have a ball of a time, which Jason has since confirmed. It comes as Luba was recently eliminated from the 2024 competition alongside celebrity partner Nick Knowles, after the DIY SOS star was forced to miss the previous week due to injury.
Jason has provided some insights into his time on Strictly in a wider interview about his partnership with Samsung, as they launch their American Football Jargon Buster to help British fans better understand the game ahead of the upcoming season.
The sports commentator and former NFL player reflected on his strong friendship with Luba following her and Nick’s “tough” time on the show this year.
He said: “Luba is my friend and she’ll be my friend for life – she’s a great person. I think what happens on that show is, if you’re lucky enough to get a really good partner, it’s like being on a team.
“I’m so close with my teammates because of what we went through on the field,” he continued. “And you never forget that. You talk about that. You remember ‘that game and this happened…’ Well, that’s the same thing me and Luba can talk about.
“We can talk about how hard practice was and the things we had to overcome. I always remind her of dances she had to literally drag me through,” he added with a laugh.
“Because she would be like, ‘You get really heavy.’ I thought I was really light on my feet. She was like, ‘No,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, I must have been nervous.’ So, yeah, just a wonderful friendship based on a shared experience.”
Asked about whether he felt for Luba when she and Nick had left the competition after being plagued with the complications of injury so early in the competition, Jason confirmed: “Yeah, it’s just tough. You want your people to do well.
“I know how great of a teacher she is, and in all honesty, she really cares about whoever her partner is and if they’re performing well.
“That’s what she’s into, and that’s what most of them care about, so that’s what makes it just a great show. People love it for a reason.
“I mean, you’re trying to accomplish something that’s challenging, and you have help, and you have a partnership to get you through. And that’s what we all want in life.”
Nick previously disclosed that he requires two surgeries on his arm and leg due to injuries sustained during his stint on Strictly, with the 62-year-old becoming the third celebrity to be voted off the show.
He said at the time: “Thank you all for your lovely messages of support! I’m sad for Luba as she had so many lovely dances planned but there are wonderful dancers in Strictly this year and with the injuries I just couldn’t keep up. I had the best time, met the best people and enjoyed every minute.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Jason excitedly spoke about his new, helpful guide to help American Football novices understand the game better.
He said: “The British love their sports, but to understand your sports, you’ve got to know the rules, and Samsung has got some data together that shows over 60% of the public is struggling with knowing the rules.
“That’s why we started the NFL Jargon Buster playbook, so we can give them some of the terminology so they can try to follow along.
“Sometimes the words and terminology will kind of just throw you off, so being able to understand what it all means will allow you to [get into it].
“It’s just like learning a new language. You’ve just got to build on each word at a time, and the next thing you know, you’re speaking fluently.”
Summing up the game for new fans, he continued: “For the main rules, you just have to think that the team’s got four tries to move the ball 10 yards, and that’s, in essence, what you’re trying to do. It’s as simple as that.
“Watch the quarterback – that’s the key. Everything starts and ends with them, and really just move on from there. But keep watching and be patient with yourself.
“And then I would say, keep my Jargon Buster playbook right in front of you, in case something pops up. So, then you can say, ‘Oh, I know exactly what that means!’
“But now is the time to really get involved, because this is when good football is starting to be played,” he encouraged.
Jason also identified his top two teams: legacy champions Kansas City Chiefs, and the Detroit Lions, who he described as “the underdogs”.
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 6.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Jason Bell has partnered withSamsung, the official TV partner of NFL UK, to create theAmerican Football Jargon Busterto help fans from fumbling the rules.