Strictly favourite Hamza Yassin has revealed the secret behind his dancefloor success – years spent tossing the caber in the tiny Scots village he calls home. The BBC wildlife presenter, whose stunning lifts have made him the stand-out star of this year’s show, said training for the traditional strongman event at his local Highland games has definitely given him an edge.
Hamza, 32, who moved to Kilchoan on the Arndnamurchan Penninsula 12 years ago, said flipping 130lb logs has been good practice for flinging dance partner Jowita Przystal up in the air on a Saturday night. The shy cameraman, whose jaw-dropping, lift-filled, week-four Salsa scored a near perfect 39 out of 40 – the highest of the series so far – said: “I think people are confused when they see me at first because I am such a big guy.
“They don’t realise just how fast and strong I am. Although, I’m no long distance runner, I am very confident when it comes to the lifts because I have spent years tossing the caber.
“Granted, tossing a caber is very different to throwing a human about but you need the same confidence, strength and balance for the lifts in Strictly.”
Hamza, who has also competed in the shot put, hammer and tug of war at the annual West Ardnamurchan Show and Sports Day, added: “Jowita says she feels confident in my arms because lifting comes naturally to me so instead of getting nervous when we do all the throws and lifts, she shouts, ‘Higher, further’.
“I never dreamed that the skills I learned on the rugby field and trying to perfect the act of tossing the caber in Scotland would one day lead to this. The ceilidh dancing has also helped.”
Despite, having no fear when he starts to dance, the wildlife photographer admits taking the first step on to the dancefloor each week is more terrifying than coming face to face with a polar bear or a cheetah.
Hamza, the host of CBeebies’ Let’s Go For a Walk, said: “Nothing prepares you for that moment when they call your name. My heart literally starts beating outside of my chest.
“I have photographed some pretty dangerous animals over the years but walking out on to the dancefloor is far scarier.
“If I saw a polar bear charging towards me or a lion or a cheetah, I would be much more relaxed than when I hear the first bars of music on a Saturday night.
“However, the minute I start to dance, the nerves disappear and at the end of each dance there is a great sense of release.
“After it’s over, even Craig’s comments don’t scare me.” Jowita, 28, who is becoming one of the show’s most popular pro dancers, added: “Hamza always gives of his best. He is a perfectionist, we both are. We dance all day, every day. We practice the routine slow, then fast, then with the music and, before we know it, the day is over and it’s time to go home.”
Hamza’s daredevil tricks, dazzling smile and fancy footwork, have endeared him to Strictly audiences and the Countryfile presenter and his Polish dance partner are now the bookies favourite to lift the glitterball trophy.
The Bangor University graduate, who has lost more than a stone since he started his Strictly training, said he is both shocked and humbled by the support and is trying not to let the pressure get to him.
Hamza, whose Cha Cha was described by judge Shirley Ballas as “the best she has ever seen”, said: “It’s a pleasure to know people are behind me. I started the show with hardly anyone knowing who I was. Unless you are under the age of five or you like watching Countryfile or natural history documentaries, then you would have had no idea.
“Now I have this platform where people do know who I am and what I stand for in life and the world. For me it is a privilege to show how much I love Mother Nature.
“Does it add pressure? Yes, a little bit but I have stayed off social media throughout this whole process as I am dedicating all my time to Jowita and dance.”
Jowita, who joined the show last year after winning The Greatest Dancer, added: “We are loving every minute of our Strictly journey and each week we take on the judges comments and work on them and or scores approve accordingly.”
The Countryfile presenter, who was born in Sudan and came to the UK when he was eight with his doctor parents, moved to Scotland when he was 21 to pursue his dream of becoming a wildlife photographer.
Hamza, who spent 11 months living in his car and washing his clothes in the local community centre, said after more than a decade living here, he considers himself an honorary Scot, and that the country and its people have changed his life.
He added: “I think I was always destined to be a Scotsman. I got my first kilt at 14 and I feel more comfortable wearing it than I do in a shirt and tie.
“Living in the West of Scotland, where I am surrounded by wildlife and people I love and who love me, is a dream come true. My village is my family. They gather every Saturday night in the community centre to watch Strictly on a projector.
“The crowd has been getting bigger every week. I don’t think anyone expected me to stay in this long. I’m hoping the whole of Scotland will continue to get behind me.”
Tonight Hamza and Jowita will be performing an Afro-fusion couples’ choice which will be a Strictly first.
The pair will be dancing to a Jerusalema Remix by Master KG featuring Burna Boy, in what promises to be one of the stand-out moments of this year’s competition.
Hamza, who hasn’t cut his incredible ankle-length mane of hair for 17 years, said: “It is nice to be able to do something with no rules and where you don’t have to worry about where your head and toes are. It gives you the freedom to be yourself.
“We have brought in a choreographer specialising in Afro-fusion to make sure we are doing it correctly. It’s a dance full of joy which you will see on both our faces.
“Seeing Jowita change from a Latin and ballroom princess into an African Queen has been one of the highlights of my time on the show. She is smashing it.”
He added: “I was born and bred in Sudan and my rhythm comes from my African side but everything else comes from Jowita, she is just incredible. She embraces my strengths and works on my weaknesses. She makes beautiful choreography that suits the way I dance.
“The saying it takes two to tango and that is definitely true with us. We are so in tune that we sometimes don’t even use words to communicate in rehearsals. We just use sounds. Our connection is unreal.”
Jowita said: “Hamza and I have been in tune since day one. I tell him to lift me higher and throw me further because I know he won’t drop me. We are having the time of our lives.”
●Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC1 tonight at 6.55pm.
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