HAMPSHIRE’S very own Strictly Come Dancing star has expressed his gratitude for the support he has received from city residents.
Kai Widdrington may have made an early exit on this year’s series, but he is “really grateful” for those in and around Southampton who have backed him.
The professional dancer from Chandler’s Ford took to the Strictly dance floor for his second series with Loose Women star Kaye Adams.
The pair performed a Charleston on Saturday night but sadly landed in the dance-off and were voted off by the judges.
'Support from my hometown is amazing'
Although his Strictly journey came to an early end this year, Kai is grateful for the experience.
He said: “I’m really grateful for everyone, even if they didn’t vote and they just supported us in general, it’s an amazing feeling.
“Obviously, it didn’t go my way this year, but Kaye is a lovely lady and such an amazing partner.
“There’s something about getting support from your hometown that feels really, really amazing.
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“It’s difficult to describe because you want to say thank you to everybody at once, but it’s one of those things where you can’t be thankful enough for the support that you get.
“You want to go as far as you can, naturally. But at the same time, you have to be mindful that there’s only so much your celebrity can learn and if that’s as far as they can go, that’s as far as they can go.
“When you realise it’s not about you and it’s about them, that’s when you’re going to go far in this competition.”
'The whole Strictly experience'
Last year, Kai reached the competition’s final with celebrity partner AJ Odudu after a series of impressive performances.
Unfortunately, the pair could not perform as AJ suffered an ankle injury just days before.
Kai said: “I’ve had the whole Strictly experience now, well and truly, in less than two years.
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“I’m very grateful to be a part of this show and am very, very grateful to have had Kaye this year.
“I learnt so much from her even though I was her teacher. We learnt a lot from each other.
“She’s taught me some amazing things that hopefully I can bring into my career as well.
“It’s one of those things where you have to bite the bullet and say, ‘this year was not the year for me’ in terms of going the distance, but there’s always next year.”
'You want to get them through the dance off'
Kai and Kaye were up against fellow contestant Matt Goss and his professional dance partner Nadiya Bychkova, who also happens to be Kai’s girlfriend.
Was the moment tense? Or were the pair fuelled by a passion to win with their respective partners?
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Kai said: “I would be doing my celebrity partner a disservice if I didn’t try and get them through, so of course whenever you’re in that position you want to get them through it.
“In those moments you have to be the professional that you are and get the job done.
“It’s never easy going against anyone but when it’s your girlfriend you must try and block it out.
“At the end of the day it’s the first dance-off of the season so there’s going to be pressure there, but I did beat Nadiya last year in the quarter-final against Dan Walker so it’s officially 1-1.”
Is performing at home on the cards?
Kai has maintained close links to Chandler’s Ford and Southampton but is keen to take that one step further by performing his own show at the Mayflower Theatre.
He said: “All my family is here so I try and get back as much as I can. I’m always back in Southampton if I can be.
“I’m trying to speak to the Mayflower Theatre to see if I can do a show there.
“I’d love to come home and do an actual show in the theatre.”
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He added: “To everyone in the south of England and Hampshire area – thank you for the support. Even if you’re from Portsmouth, I’m thanking you.
“I have to say thank you for the continued support, from last year all the way through to this year, it’s just been really overwhelming.
“It’s quite hard to take in and it’s much appreciated. It doesn’t go unnoticed.
“I will try and come back to my hometown to do a show in the Mayflower. I’m trying to make that happen.”
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