Chris Robshaw

Chris Robshaw was a novice to dancing when he joined the Strictly Come Dancing line-up, but his partner Nadiya thinks he has what it takes to overcome the disadvantage

Former Rugby Union player, Chris Robshaw, 39, stepped out of his comfort zone when he signed up to BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, having never danced in his life – except at his wedding.

This year, many have criticised the unfair advantage in dancing experience, with stars such as Amber Davies, 28, and Lewis Cope, 30, having performed in the West End.

However, Chris’ professional partner, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, thinks he has everything it takes to overcome the disadvantage. “Chris is taking all the information on board. He just needs a few more weeks to kind of get to the point, and then I think he’ll be really ready to perform the way I think he can to his full abilities,” she says.

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“It’s the experience of knowing how to do that, which is completely new and which you can’t get overnight, but I think this is what the show is about, for people who never danced before.

“We often don’t get to see it because like people who don’t have this experience would sometimes leave the show earlier, which is really sad because there is often so much talent in there, and it’s always so nice for the audience to see it.”

After the first live show last Saturday, Chris’ wife Camilla took to social media to address the ‘wild’ difference in the contestants’ dancing abilities.

“Proud forever. Up against people with years of experience when you’ve never even done a 2 step, opening the whole season and starting with one of the hardest dances going,” she penned.

Later, she responded to a comment from Love Island star Amber Gill, 28, who penned: “Unpopular opinion: I think having people with so much dance experience is unfair.”

Speaking on his wife’s comment, Chris said: “I love my wife and she’s my biggest supporter. She wants us to do well in the competition, and that’s kind of it really.”

On what he thinks of the range of dancing abilities, Chris added: “It is what it is, isn’t it? In SAS you could say I was fitter than some of the other people, and then that’s kind of it.”

Chris was forced to pull out of Celebrity SAS with a shoulder injury – but luckily has avoided any injuries during his time on Strictly.

This series was thrown into chaos when two contestants were forced to pull out before the first live show even started.

Just days after the line-up was announced, Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn revealed he would be stepping back from the series due to unexpected medical reasons, which he said were a “high level of stress and a little bit of grief” that manifested physically.

Soon after, it was revealed that he’d be replaced by Emmerdale star Lewis Cope, who played the character Michael in the West End production of Billy Elliot: The Musical.

Then, just days before the live shows were about to start, Love Island’s Dani Dyer revealed she’d been forced to pull out due to a fractured ankle.

She was replaced with former Love Islander and West End star Amber Davies, who, with just days to practiced received an impressive 27/40 in her debut dance.

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Former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw has been married to classical crossover singer Camilla Kerslake since 2018, with the couple sharing two children together

Chris Robshaw admits his wife Camilla Kerslake laughed at him when he first announced he would be signing up to Strictly Come Dancing. The former England rugby union player married singer Camilla in France in 2018.

The pair had been engaged for six years when they tied the knot. Classical crossover singer Camilla, 37, made headlines in 2009 when she became the first person to be signed by Gary Barlow’s record label.

She had performed for Queen Elizabeth II as well as performing the national anthem at Wembley and the-then Millennium Stadium. And while Camilla has been one of Chris’s supporters throughout his career, he admits she burst out in a fit of laughter when he told her he would be heading onto the dance floor.

Chris told Heat that Camilla knows “all about my dance moves” but revealed she later reassured the 39-year-old that she backed his decision.

He explained: “She was like, ‘Look, it’s a great opportunity. It’s amazing, so go and do it, we’ll support you’.”

Chris, who shares one-year-old Hunter and four-year-old Wilding with Camilla, says his eldest child has been excited by the news. “We’ve shown him the show, he loves the sparkles and the lights,” Chris explained.

And while Wilding “doesn’t quite understand” that his dad will be taking part in the show, Chris wanted him to see his dad stepping out of his comfort zone. The former flanker says it’s good to “really challenge yourself” at times.

Chris himself is no stranger to a challenge. As well as racking up 66 caps for England, he took part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins last year, although he had to withdraw due to injury.

Chris underwent surgery after a boxing match with Love Islander Ovie Soko. He said: “I had to get an operation. Because I’d popped my shoulder out the ligament was loose so it becomes like a catch which keeps opening. So they reattached the ligament to keep it in place.”

The ex-rugby star said he had experienced some shoulder problems towards the end of his playing career. Before taking part in Strictly, Chris joked that he hoped the BBC show would help him take his “dad dancing to a whole new level”.

He said: “This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets! I’m hoping to take my dad dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can’t wait to drag me along to her Zumba class. Let’s see if a rugby sidestep works in the Cha Cha Cha.”

Chris will be taking part in Strictly with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova. Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One from 6.55pm today (September 27)

Chris Robshaw’s wife Camilla Kerslake has made a drastic move to head off speculation about Strictly Come Dancing’s infamous curse just days before he takes to the dancefloor

Strictly Come Dancing is set to return this weekend, and former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw will be among the new celebrity contestants.

However, while he prepares to take to the dancefloor, his wife Camilla Kerslake has reportedly already taken steps to make sure the infamous and dreaded ‘Strictly curse’ doesn’t enter their marriage.

Camilla, 37, who tied the knot with Chris, 39, in 2018, is said to be keen to shut down speculation before it starts and has even invited his professional partner over for dinner.

“Camilla is a woman’s woman. She knows it’s inevitable that women will be compared and pitted against each other, but she won’t stand for that. She’s always been very vocal about women supporting each other and has already invited Chris’ partner over for dinner.

“She wants to build a friendship outside of the show in a bid to stop any gossiping around the curse,” a source revealed.

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According to insiders, Chris’ dance partner has been receptive to Camilla’s efforts, with both women finding common ground and planning to spend time together before the series begins.

“Chris thinks they’ll hit it off as mates,” the source added, “and he’s joked to friends that he’ll end up being the third wheel,” they told The Sun.

The ‘Strictly curse’ has become a well-worn talking point since the show first began in 2004, with several celebrity contestants leaving long-term partners for their professional dancers.

Notable cases of the dreaded curse include Countdown star Rachel Riley splitting from her husband before marrying professional dancer Pasha Kovalev in 2019.

Stacey Dooley also left her partner Sam Tucknott and later had a child with professional dancer Kevin Clifton. Elsewhere, comedian Seann Walsh was brutally dumped after being caught kissing his professional dance partner, Katya Jones.

Camilla is determined not to let history repeat itself in their household as friends say she wants to ensure there is unity between her and Chris’ dance partner rather than any sense of rivalry.

Away from the dancefloor, Chris and Camilla have also been dealing with a personal and terrifying challenge. Earlier this year it was revealed that the couple had been targeted by a stalker.

Addressing the situation at the time, Camilla said: “Chris and I are so grateful to the press for handling a very difficult situation with such sensitivity. It’s meant we can focus on keeping our little family safe.

“We’ve truly been overwhelmed by the kindness shown. From here, we’re choosing to move forward. This won’t define us and instead, we’ll be focusing on our family and the exciting journey ahead with Strictly.”

Chris joins a cast that includes former Love Island star Dani Dyer, TV personality Vicky Pattison, and YouTube sensation George Clarke.

The series will officially launch this weekend with the pairing-up episode, before the celebrities and their professional dancers kick off the live competition.

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But Judge Anton insisted it was not a problem as viewers always grow to love the line ups of long running BBC series

TV judge Anton Du Beke has admitted that he does not recognise many of the stars picked for Strictly Come Dancing these days. Echoing public criticism that the BBC dance show’s line-up can sometimes lack a little lustre or the big names of previous years, he admitted the first time he would see some of them could be on the ballroom.

Anton said: “When I first started, we sort of knew them, but now as you get older… there are a number of people on the show that I am not familiar with.” Speaking of last year’s model contestant Tasha Ghouri, he added: “I mean last year, Tasha? I did not know Tasha. No, I don’t know a number of people on the show.”

But he has got used to being a bit baffled, as more online personalities are introduced onto the show, explaining: “You don’t know who they are, but that is normal.”

He said of the 25-year-old YouTuber taking to the dancefloor for 2025: “There is that lovely boy George Clarke doing it this year. I thought it was the buildings fella, George Clarke the architect.”

And although he has now watched performances by the contestants who will be strutting their stuff on telly from this Saturday, he hasn’t seen enough to pick a winner.

Anton, 59, recalled how he was asked for an early opinion at the recording of the launch show and said: “They made it down the stairs unaided. I don’t know what you want me to say. Ask me next week when they have danced a bit.”

This year’s 15 celebrities include four reality TV stars: Vicky Pattison, 37, Thomas Skinner, 34, Dani Dyer, 29, and La Voix, 45. There are four sports stars too: sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 37, footballers Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, and Karen Carney, 38, and rugby union’s Chris Robshaw, 39.

It is actors who make up the biggest group, with five: Stefan Dennis, 66, Alex Kingston, 62, Balvinder Sopal, 46, Ellie Goldstein, 23, and Lewis Cope, 30. There is also presenter Ross King, 63, and YouTuber George.

Speaking at an event to launch his new novel, Monte Carlo by Moonlight, Anton said he will soon be reading the celebrities’ body language. He said of judging: “As I sit ther,e I know exactly what has been going on. I can see by this routine what sort of a week you have had and I laugh.

“If they start at the top of the stairs and walk down, they have had a very difficult week, like they are wasting as much time as they can until they get on the floor and have to take hold. The waltz is always lovely to judge. You can always see how good and bad their week has been by how long they stay ‘in hold’.”

After years of grumbles that contestants with dance experience – such as Lewis Cope – have a head start, Anton conceded it is tru,e but that the advantage is only slight. “It will help them a bit. I have not seen many of those who have actually won.”

And he had some tips for the professionals, too. “Learn that it is not about you. I was always aware of that. It is not my name they say first. It is the celebrity’s name.” Anton, who has eight-year-old twins with wife Hannah, also urged BBC bosses to tweak the rules on voting.

This year voting via premium phone lines has been axed and instead viewers have a brief opportunity on Saturday nights to vote online. But Anton thinks voting should go on all week, as many Strictly Come Dancing fans catch up on iPlayer.

He said: “I remember when we started the show, you could vote all week. Now you have a little window, and that is a shame because some people can’t watch it on a Saturday night.

“They might be working or may go out. I would like people to be able to vote during the week as everyone is invested even if they watch it on catch-up, so give them the opportunity to vote.”

And as for the show’s enduring popularity as it enters its 23rd series, he said: “The show works because we re-cast it every year and now we have a couple of new pros. There is an extraordinary amount of enthusiasm for it. The room is always enthused and I think that transfers to people watching it.

“You can like it for different reasons. You can like it for the frocks, the group dances, the couples or want to see how people are getting on. You can like the judges – or not like the judges!”

* The launch show of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing is on at 6.40pm on Saturday on BBC1 and BBC iPlayer.

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Strictly Come Dancing is set to return later this year with pros like Nadiya Bychkova having already begun rehearsals, ahead of the line-up of contestants being announced

A retired rugby union player is reportedly in talks to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. There’s already speculation over who they could be partnered with for the BBC dance contest if they end up taking part in the upcoming series.

The show is set to return later this year and rehearsals underway for the professional dancers. The line-up of contestants for the new series of Strictly has yet to be announced, but there’s been speculation over potential contestants in recent weeks.

Chris Robshaw, 39, who captained England’s national team, is now among those rumoured for the dancefloor when the show returns. Since his retirement from rugby in 2022, he’s already been on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.

It’s been teased that Chris would likely be paired up with pro Nadiya Bychkova, 35, if he does Strictly this year. She was announced as one of the returning dancers in April, alongside two new additions to the pro line-up.

Chris, who is married to classical singer Camilla Kerslake, is thought to be almost 6 foot 2 inches tall so there’s speculation that Nadiya would be only pro close to matching his stature, unless he has a same-sex partner for the competition. A source teased to the Sun that Chris, who is reportedly in “advanced talks” for Strictly, and returning pro Nadiya could deliver “sizzling performances” if they are partnered on the show.

The source said: “Chris is likely to be the hunkiest celebrity signing for the 2025 show and if he does get paired with Nadiya will deliver some sizzling performances. But as a former rugby star he’ll also have some big dance shoes to fill as plenty of other players have gone onto Strictly and done remarkably well.”

A number of former rugby players have competed on Strictly since the TV show launched in 2004, with Martin Offiah placing fourth in the first series. Matt Dawson was runner-up in 2006 and Kenny Logan then placed fifth in 2007.

Austin Healey also achieved a top five position when he competed in 2008, having placed fourth. Gavin Henson, who appeared on the show in 2010, and Ben Cohen, who competed in 2013, ended up in fifth and eighth place respectively.

More recently, contestants with a background in rugby haven’t done as well on Strictly though. Thom Evans placed twelfth when he competed in the ballroom back in 2014 and Ugo Monye placed eleventh in the contest in 2021.

The line-up of contestants for the new series has yet to be announced. The BBC however has already confirmed which pros will be returning to the dancefloor, with Nadiya among the dancers coming back for another series.

Nadiya and the other pros have already started rehearsing for the upcoming series. They have posted updates from training on Instagram, including introducing Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon, who are the newest pros on the show.

A photo of the group together in a dance studio was shared by Nadiya last night. She wrote in the caption: “Back in the ballroom bubble with the best in the business. Another season, another adventure – and I’m so ready for it.”

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