Claudia Winkleman has admitted she’s ’embarrassed’ not to have known who Countryfile star Hamza Yassin was before his incredible run on Strictly Come Dancing.
Hamza has absolutely smashed it during his time on the show, earning rave reviews from the judges and votes from viewers – as well as the love of a certain presenter.
Claudia explained it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t know all the celebrities to begin with, adding: ‘I mean, I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know Hamza. Hamza, by the way, I am going to steal.’
She added to The Times that she’s not ‘famous’ herself as the show is about more than its presenters.
‘James Corden is famous. You know people are famous when you walk down the street with them. You and I could walk down the street – and we can put it to the test – with me in full sequins, humming the Strictly theme, and I could go, ‘The scores are in,” very loudly from the top of Marble Arch. And nobody would look up,’ she said.
‘I’m not being disingenuous. There are lots of shows that are about the host. Strictly isn’t. Strictly is as much about the judges, Dave Arch [the musical director], Katya [Jones] and the amazing props people, who can put up a gazebo in under ten seconds and turn the whole thing into Jurassic Park’.
The celebs are nearing the Strictly final, and it’s been an emotional journey for pretty much all of them.
Helen Skelton got teary on this week’s show as she had a heartfelt chat with her pro partner Gorka Marquez.
Helen looked back on her difficult year following her split from her husband Richie Myler, and said: ‘I definitely am a different person from when we started and for me, what has been…’
She went on to break down in tears, telling Gorka: ‘Sorry, I’m sorry,’ as he reassured her.
She continued: ‘I think even you say I’m a different person from day one, right?’ as he agreed.
Strictly Come Dancing continues Friday on BBC One.
