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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Nicole Vassell

Hamza Yassin: Who is the Strictly Come Dancing 2022 contestant and what is he famous for?

BBC/Ray Burmiston

A whole new roster of famous faces are wearing in their dancing shoes, as Strictly Come Dancing is back every Saturday night.

The celebrities are attempting to dazzle the judging panel with their moves for the show’s landmark 20th series.

Among this year’s intake are actor Kym Marsh, former X Factor star Fleur East and half of Bros, Matt Goss.

You can check out the full line-up here.

The 13th competitor announced to be taking part in this series was Hamza Yassin – but who is he, and what has he said about joining the cast of Strictly 2022?

Most will know Yassin best from his work on Countryfile as a guest presenter and cameraman.

As well as this, he can be seen on the BBC programme Animal Park, and has presented other programmes about Scottish wildlife.

Younger viewers will recognise him from the CBeebies live-action show Let’s Go For A Walk. He will also appear in the forthcoming series Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest.

He is coupled up with Jowita Przystał.

Yassin and partner Jowita Przystał (BBC/Guy Levy)

Speaking about how he hopes Strictly will improve his fitness, he said: “My biggest challenge will be my weight and my fitness, I’m a big dude and I think I’m strong but imagine me like a rhino where I can have a short burst of energy and then I’m knackered afterwards.

“So I don’t want to be a rhino, I want to be a dolphin that’s constantly moving through water that can go for hours and hours. I want to be the fittest that I’ve ever been in my life. I’m an ex rugby player. What we do in rugby is completely different to what you do on the dance floor, but I reckon a lot of it will transfer.”

Last week, Yassin astonished the audience and the judges with his incredible lifts in his Salsa. He scored 39 – the highest points of the series so far.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday 22 October at 6.40pm on BBC One.

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