Strictly Come Dancing's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink reveals secret dance background

Strictly Come Dancing star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has revealed that he was "pushed" to do the show by his daughters and has come familiarity with the dancing world thanks to them. The 53-year-old is best known for his time playing for Chelsea in the early 2000s before retiring from football and becoming a manager.

He's one of the celebrities who'll be taking to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom in September as part of the 2025 line-up. Speaking about his dancefloor debut, the ex-footballer revealed that performing runs in the family.

"[It's] unknown, out of my comfort zone, not knowing what is going to come," he said.

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"Exciting, but scared. Strictly has always been in our house. I'm a father of only girls. My girls love the show, so we watch it every Saturday and watch the results on Sunday as a family," he told Covers.

"That's our thing. I've got a daughter as well that used to be in the West End and does performing arts and drama. She can dance and sing, and my middle daughter as well. So, the dancing and the singing and stuff.

"It is very common in my household. They are not footballers, so I have to integrate myself into their world, which I do with all pleasure."

He added that his daughters encouraged him to sign up for the show. "They have pushed me into Strictly and that I have to participate, unfortunately," he said.

As for how they're feeling ahead of the launch, Jimmy said: "They're very excited. They love it. Basically, I'm going to be bossed around for the next four months.

"I have not started training yet, but I do expect it to be very hard. I do expect it to be... It's difficult, but it is just about being open-minded and have a go and trying to become really good at it. Absolutely."

Jimmy has four daughters - Ghislaine, 29, Miah, 18, Lauren, 16, and Khloe, 11. Miah is a musical theatre performer who's appeared in Netflix film Matilda the Musical and Tina the Musical.

Earlier this week, Vicky Pattison opened up about preparing for Strictly - revealing that she manifested taking part in the show.

"I would say to anyone who has goals, and is struggling to proactively get what they want, or even work out what it is they want, do a vision board," she told The Mirror.

"I swear by them. I have two in my office, two huge ones, one for my professional life and one for my personal life."

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was speaking exclusively to Covers.

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