Strictly favourite Hamza Yassin’s image as a novice is today punctured by a video of his polished dance performance on stage at university.
Film shows the wildlife presenter, who topped the leaderboard in the semi-final, performing a paso doble and a salsa in Bangor University Dance Club’s end-of-term show in 2010.
In the clip, a compere introduces two dances, saying how all the students have been taught by teachers, some for months.
He says both Latin dances have been split into beginners and advanced sections for the show.
The compere says: “Many of the dancers in this piece have only been learning salsa for a year and some even less.”
Yassin danced a salsa in the beginner section. But, casting even more doubt on his image as an underdog in Strictly, he was in the “advanced” part of the performance featuring the paso doble.
On Saturday Hamza goes up against Fleur East, Helen Skelton and Molly Rainford in the Strictly final.
He has denied having any dance background before the show.
In September’s official BBC press release announcing his participation in Strictly Come Dancing, he was asked specifically about whether he has any “previous dance experience”.
He replied: “I like dancing in the shower, just the same as singing in the shower, I think I sound amazing and I think my dance moves look cool, in my own personal time.
“But professionally, no, absolutely not. I don’t know if I’ve got two left feet or two right feet, but we’ll soon find out.”
In October he also claimed never to have danced with a partner apart from some Gaelic dancing.
Hamza, who spent the first eight years of his life in Sudan before coming to England, said: “I have rhythm, that’s from my African side, but the only dancing with a partner I have done is at ceilidhs.”
Judges and presenters alike have been wowed by how well Hamza is doing in the competition, given his reported lack of experience.
On Sunday’s show, host Tess Daly, 53, said: “Coming from the world of wildlife, our next star began this series a complete dance novice. He’s come so far!”
Co-host Claudia Winkleman, 50, added: “Craig said ‘He is naturally gifted.’ What is that like for you, who’s never danced before?”
The wildlife cameraman studied zoology and conservation at Bangor, graduating in 2011. Hamza’s reticence about his dancing history has baffled a former member of the Bangor University Dance Club.
The ex-student, who danced in the same end-of-year show as Hamza, said: “He has consistently played to the claim that he has never done anything like this before.
“It’s not clear why he would want to keep his dance experience at university a secret but I do not think this is fair to those voting for him.”
The BBC declined to comment when approached by the Mirror about the video of his university dance exploits.
A BBC insider insisted Hamza only “took part in two performances to help out a friend whose dance partner could no longer participate” at Bangor.
The former Bangor student said: “There were many rehearsals leading up to any shows.
“As you can tell in the videos, he was rehearsed.”
They added: “The fact that I recall him in the club indicates he was involved for some time.”
In July, conservationist Hamza received two honorary degrees from his former university – a master of science in zoology and conservation and a further master’s degree in biological photography and imaging.
Yassin, 32, is partnered in Strictly with Polish professional dancer Jowita Przystal, 28. Children’s television personality Hamza is currently odds on favourite to take home the glitterball trophy in tonight’s final.
The ex-student added: “I was surprised about him being on Strictly, because I know he has done Latin dancing before and I thought it was a requirement you had not.
“I thought perhaps I was wrong and his prior training was an advantage and something he would talk about on the show. I am disappointed to see he has not yet mentioned it.”
A spokesperson for Hamza said: “Whilst Hamza was studying zoology with conservation at Bangor university, he took part in two amateur dance performances... he has never been professionally trained in dance.”
