Kai Widdrington has revealed his family's footballing links don't stop at his famous dad Tommy, with a photo of him from his own footballing days, together with younger brother Theo, who is a regular for National League side Kings Lynn.
When Kai joined the Strictly ranks in 2021, viewers were surprised to learn that he was the son of footballer Tommy Widdrington. Newcastle born player Tommy's careers started on a similar path to NUFC legend Alan Shearer, with him making the switch to Southampton as a schoolboy trainee.
Like Shearer, he also had a stint in the Premier League, starring in the Saints' side that finished 10th in the 1994/5 season and then again, scoring twice the following season when they narrowly avoided relegation. From Southampton, Tommy moved to Grimsby Town for a then record club fee of £300,000 before moving onto Port Vale and then Hartlepool.
READ MORE: Vera star Kenny Doughty's famous girlfriend lands role in another Ann Cleeves drama
Many Strictly viewers got a shock when they saw Tommy in the audience one week as Kai made it all the way to the final in his first series on the BBC show.
And now, as he's hotly tipped to be involved again this year, Kai has opened up on the love for football he not only shares with his dad, but also with Theo. On the occasion of Theo's birthday, Strictly Christmas champion Kai took to Instagram to write: "Happy birthday little brother, so many memories to look back on and so many more to look forward to. love you kid @theowidd"
And among the pictures of the two brothers together was one of the two brothers in matching strips, from their junior football days.
Theo was managed by dad Tommy, now 51, for the whole of last season and much of this, before,. after steering Kings' Lyn to a 1-0 win to keep them in the National League, Tommy resigned to take up a role at Aldershot Town.
Tomy, Kai and Theo posed together at a Kings Lynn game earlier this season, with Kai captioning the photo: "Proudest brother and son in the world," with one of his Insta followers replying: "I used to watch your Dad play for Saints! And now I feel old! And I’m not even 40!"
Kai spoke about his family connection to Newcastle when he was in the city earlier this year on the Strictly live tour, prompting cheers from the crowd when he mentioned his dad.
Sign up to get the latest TV and showbiz news straight to your inbox with the Chronicle TV and celebs newsletter. If you can't see the form below, click HERE
READ NEXT:
