The former rugby player looks back on his Strictly Come Dancing experience and what it meant to him.
With the 24th season of Strictly Come Dancing resuming this weekend, online casino Betway caught up with former contestant Thom Evans to reflect on his time on the show, how it helped him adjust to life after rugby, and why the experience remains so special to him.
What are you favourite memories from your time on Strictly Come Dancing?
I absolutely love the show. You don’t fully appreciate what a special experience it is until you actually do it. I was incredibly lucky to have such a great group of contestants doing it with me. I’ve always found that when I’ve taken myself out of my comfort zone, those are the moments I’ve truly enjoyed more than anything else, and Strictly was definitely that for me. It’s terrifying, but the feeling you get when you’re on the dance floor with the live band behind you is something that will stay with you forever.
What advice would you give to anyone appearing on the show?
I would say to just enjoy it. It’s a great opportunity and a lot of fun. Strictly was a real turning point for me. My injury had forced me to retire from rugby at just 24, and that reality hit me a few years after the incident. When Strictly came along, it opened so many new doors for me, and I’m very grateful.
What was the hardest part of competing on Strictly Come Dancing, and did anything about the training surprise you?
It is hard, but having been a professional rugby player, the pressures of putting in the hours and the competitive side definitely put you at an advantage – especially as the competition progresses and the long hours are required more and more. Having a sports background definitely helped me in that respect. I was used to putting in those long extra hours, taking care of my body, and making sure that I was ready to go at any given second for those live performances on the telly.
You were forced to retire from rugby at just 24, and Strictly came only a few years later. Were you nervous about putting your body through such a physically demanding challenge?
I don’t think many people know the full extent of the injury I had and, to be honest, I don’t really make a point of bringing it up because I feel incredibly grateful for the recovery I had. But it was a really extensive injury, and some of the stunts with Strictly, such as one-arm lifts, definitely took a toll on my posture. My neck in particular was very stiff because of that, and I did struggle, but I tried not to show it.
Were your friends and family nervous for you to take on the Strictly challenge?
My mum was a bit worried, but my mum and dad were always going to worry about anything physical after my injury. They loved the show, though, and were pretty assured because health and fitness were still a huge part of my life. I built myself back up to full fitness quite quickly after the injury.
Looking back, were there any mistakes or unexpected moments on Strictly that stand out?
When Iveta (Lukosiute) and I were doing the salsa, I had to lift her up with one arm. When we did it on the live show, my thumb got caught in her dress as I was bringing her down. She didn’t land flat on her face, but she landed a bit awkwardly. I think you can get in your head a lot about making mistakes, but the public don’t notice them as much. A few people probably did notice, but the dismount wasn’t what it could have been!
Your dance-off divided viewers, and many thought you were unfairly sent home. Are you still upset about this?
It’s a tough one because obviously I was gutted to leave the show when I did. Your love for the show grows week by week, and it’s so hard to go from having the daily routine and experience to then suddenly being out of the competition. It’s a tough pill to swallow, and I’m sure every other past contestant would say the same thing. I have so much respect for Simon Webbe, who went through to the next stage instead of me. He ended up going to the final shows, and I’m glad he did, as he was such an incredible dancer. I wasn’t too beaten up about it, in that respect.
Which of your fellow Strictly contestants surprised you the most, and who did you see as your biggest competition?
I think Craig (Revel Horwood) surprised me the most. He comes across as quite an intense character on screen, but he was so lovely and different to what I was expecting. I can’t speak for other people, but I was lucky to be with the contestants and professional dancers on my series. Everyone got on so well.
You featured alongside Alison Hammond, is she just as iconic off camera?
Oh my God, even more so! She has the most infectious laugh you could ever imagine. I was actually quite close with Alison, and it was funny because we shared the same passion and love for dancing. I’m so happy to see where she’s gone in her career. There are people in life who deserve everything, and Alison is definitely one of them.
You appeared on the celebrity version of The X Factor in 2019. What was that experience like?
The X Factor holds a pretty special place in my heart because it’s where I met my fiancée, Nicole, so my life has substantially changed because of that. It was an amazing experience. I’d always watched The X Factor in the past, especially when it was at its peak, and wondered what it would be like to be on that stage, singing and performing on live television. To get to do that at 35 years of age wasn’t expected, but it was such an incredible experience. That, along with Strictly, will live with me forever.
Simon Cowell often has a reputation for being harsh, but what was your experience of him?
Honestly, he is the nicest guy. He was our mentor and, similar to Craig (Revel Horwood), I thought he would be this ‘Mr Nasty’ character, but he couldn’t have been more different. He was so warm and encouraging, and he’s achieved so much in his life. He really took the time to help us out with ideas, and he was really invested. It’s not that I didn’t expect him to be, but he had been doing the show for so many years prior to that, you just never know. There’s a part of you that thinks he’s lost a bit of interest or is just coasting through it, but that was far from what he was like. He was very hands-on, and he only added to making the experience what it was.
With X Factor rumoured for a huge return, do you think Nicole would be keen to come back as a judge?
I don’t think they could bring back the format the way it was before, especially with the way artists are now so involved with social media and streaming. If they were to bring it back, they’d have to modernise it for the modern day. But I do think there’s space for The X Factor to return. As for the judges, who knows? I can say Nicole is the busiest person I know on the planet. She’s non-stop, and puts hard graft, blood, sweat and tears into everything she does. She never gets a second to chill out!
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