Essex


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/muddy-essex-meets-strictly-come-dancings-kai-widdrington/"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/4-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="Kai Widdrington Cliffs Southend " class="wp-image-22396" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/4-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/4-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/4-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/4-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></a></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kai-let-s-start-with-your-tour-what-s-it-all-about">Kai, let&#8217;s start <a href="https://trafalgartickets.com/cliffs-pavilion-southend/en-GB/event/dance/kai-widdrington-evolution-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with your tour</a>. What&#8217;s it all about?</h2>



<p>I&#8217;m really excited for it to kick off. There&#8217;s group routines and solo performances, with lots of dance styles plus lifts and spins thrown in. I&#8217;ve gone from growing up as a kid from Southampton watching <em>Strictly</em> to this – it&#8217;s a dream come true, as cliché as it sounds. I&#8217;m getting to dance to the tune I&#8217;ve always wanted to my whole life. I grew up pretending to be Elvis in the mirror with a can of hairspray in my hand and dancing to Michael Jackson songs. Now I get to do all those things and more with an amazing production company and cast. I&#8217;m really, really happy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-opening-night-s-tomorrow-last-minute-nerves">Your opening night&#8217;s tomorrow. Last minute nerves?</h2>



<p>A few, as I can&#8217;t control everything. There&#8217;s the music, costumes and tech to consider – lots of different elements to a show. It&#8217;s not just me dancing to a piece of music. But I&#8217;m doing as much as I can to make sure it goes smoothly. Obviously throughout the tour it&#8217;ll progress and we&#8217;ll find our feet – so there&#8217;s just a few prematch nerves.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-any-pre-stage-rituals-you-do-before-you-perform">Any pre-stage rituals you do before you perform?</h2>



<p>We always gather the cast and I say a few words of encouragement. It&#8217;s more to remember why we&#8217;re here and not to ever take this for granted. We have some of the best jobs in the world, getting to perform every night. It&#8217;s also about reminding us that it&#8217;s the audience&#8217;s first time seeing the show, and we only have one chance to make a first impression. Oh and I also shake my hands about, as they tend to get a bit sweaty!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-at-southend-s-cliffs-pavilion-this-sunday-know-any-facts-about-the-city">You&#8217;re at Southend&#8217;s <a href="https://trafalgartickets.com/cliffs-pavilion-southend/en-GB/event/dance/kai-widdrington-evolution-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cliffs Pavilion this Sunday</a>. Know any facts about the city?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/©Southend-Pier-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="Southend pier " class="wp-image-22398" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/©Southend-Pier-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/©Southend-Pier-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/©Southend-Pier-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/©Southend-Pier-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>That&#8217;s easy as my dad [Aldershot Town football manager Tommy] lives in Shoeburyness. It&#8217;s like a second home, and I&#8217;m there every other week. Here&#8217;s one for you: Southend has the longest pleasure pier in the world.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-where-do-you-all-go-when-you-re-there">So where do you all go when you&#8217;re there?</h2>



<p>I love going to Old Leigh and head to The Crooked Billet pub. All of Leigh on Sea&#8217;s great – pretty much every other place down there&#8217;s a brunch spot nowadays. It&#8217;s just a lovely place to be, especially in the sunshine. I also had my first Rossi ice cream in Southend a couple of weeks ago when I was down. I also love going to the Cliffs Pavilion as they always have amazing shows on. I feel very lucky to be able to perform there.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-brother-s-a-footballer-for-aldershot-town-how-did-it-feel-seeing-your-dad-and-him-hold-the-fa-trophy-last-weekend">Your brother&#8217;s a footballer for Aldershot Town. How did it feel seeing your dad and him hold the FA trophy last weekend?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/2-6-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-22399" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/2-6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/2-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/2-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/2-6.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I couldn&#8217;t believe it was happening. I found out the statistic that it was the first ever father and son as part of the same team on the same day winning a trophy at Wembley – no one&#8217;s ever done it before. They made history that day. I think there were nearly 20,000 Aldershot fans there, which was incredible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-why-did-you-choose-dance-over-football">So why did you choose dance over football?</h2>



<p>It was just something I loved a little bit more. There was a moment when I was in the car with my dad listening to music on the way to dance class when it all started to make sense in my head. I was like, &#8220;Oh, that&#8217;s a waltz, and that&#8217;s the tango I&#8217;ve been learning&#8221;. I also didn&#8217;t really fancy being kicked by 11 blokes on a Sunday morning on a freezing cold pitch – I&#8217;d much rather be in a warm studio with a load of girls. I made the decision at 12 and then my brother followed in my dad&#8217;s footsteps. And all the better, because I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d have been able to do what they all achieved on Sunday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-family-were-supportive-when-you-told-them-about-dancing-what-do-you-say-to-other-parents-who-might-not-feel-the-same">Your family were supportive when you told them about dancing. What do you say to other parents who might not feel the same?</h2>



<p>To let your kids dance – just in a controlled situation and in an environment where it&#8217;s regulated. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m working with Angela Rippon trying to get dancing into schools, because it&#8217;s good for their social and mental health. Dancing&#8217;s been proven to be one of the most amazing things for your body and mind and has helped so many people through hard times. I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s anybody that&#8217;s danced to a piece of music under their own accord but haven&#8217;t enjoyed it. Kids should dance. Kids should absolutely dance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-googling-your-weight-loss-kept-popping-up-how-does-it-make-you-feel-when-you-see-people-being-judged-on-their-appearance">When Googling your weight loss kept popping up. How does it make you feel when you see people being judged on their appearance?</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s no reason anyone should judge anyone. I just wanted to get myself in the best possible shape for what I do, and had that opportunity through not getting a partner on <em>Strictly</em> last year. It gave me a chance to take a step back and ask myself what I could improve in my life. It was to be able to feel the best I can, and right now I&#8217;m in the best physical shape I&#8217;ve been since I was 17. I&#8217;m also in the best mental state I&#8217;ve been in for a very, very long time – and the happiest I&#8217;ve been, too. If I&#8217;m happy I&#8217;m firing on all cylinders. I just feel very confident at where I am in my life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-are-you-more-confident-with-all-the-outfits-you-wear-on-tv-and-stage">So are you more confident with all the outfits you wear on TV and stage?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/3-5-1000x667.jpg" alt="Kai Angela Rippon" class="wp-image-22400" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/3-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/3-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/3-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/3-5.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I&#8217;m always up for anything – come see me on tour and check out the outrageous full-on rhinestone suit I&#8217;m wearing. I&#8217;ve never said &#8216;no&#8217; to an outfit – it&#8217;s just what you wear when you dance. I&#8217;m not saying I didn&#8217;t use to get taken the mick out of, as kids did at school. But I really didn&#8217;t care what they thought. I love sparkles and Cuban heels. Bring them on!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-30-this-august-what-do-you-do-that-you-d-never-have-done-10-years-ago">You&#8217;re 30 this August. What do you do that you&#8217;d never have done 10 years ago?</h2>



<p>I I like nights in: &#8216;Netflix and chill&#8217;. I also love playing golf and am even taking my clubs on tour. It&#8217;s a good way to relax and I&#8217;ve also got a bit of a competitive edge. You&#8217;re outside, you put your phone away for hours, you chat with your mates and you whack a ball around the course. It&#8217;s all about getting the right amount of balance. It&#8217;s hard work being on tour, with a two hour show every night around the country. So rest is important.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-you-starting-to-feel-aches-and-pains-when-dancing">Are you starting to feel aches and pains when dancing?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/1-6-1000x667.jpg" alt="Kai Widdrington tour" class="wp-image-22401" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/1-6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/1-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/1-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2025/05/1-6.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Not yet, but then again I feel the fittest I&#8217;ve ever been. I make sure to warm up and stretch properly before each show, because at the end of the day we&#8217;re athletes as well as artists so our body&#8217;s a machine and we&#8217;re working it hard. Muscles need recovery, and I make sure I eat and drink the right things so I can perform my very best every single night.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-you-see-yourself-in-10-years-many-dancers-have-retired-by-then">Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Many dancers have retired by then.</h2>



<p>Not for me – that&#8217;s a long way off and doesn&#8217;t even factor in my head right now. I&#8217;m actually the second youngest pro dancer on <em>Strictly</em> and feel very much at the beginning of my journey there. I&#8217;ve got a lot more to give. I&#8217;ve won everything there is to win on the show apart from the main Glitterball. I&#8217;ve got a Guinness World Record, I&#8217;ve won the live tour – and I&#8217;ve won the Christmas special twice. Retirement&#8217;s not in my vocabulary at this time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ever-reckon-you-ll-be-a-judge">Ever reckon you&#8217;ll be a judge?</h2>



<p>Who knows? I can&#8217;t see those four going anywhere! I&#8217;d love to get into TV presenting, and Angela Rippon&#8217;s mentoring and helping me with that. I&#8217;m also passionate about a lot of things, again going back to getting dancing into schools. We&#8217;re living in a time when we&#8217;re all controlled by our phones, and it would be lovely to get kids off of them and dance to music with a teacher for an hour a week. Who knows what the future holds ? There&#8217;s so many different avenues that I could go down. Looking at the guitars behind you [Muddy Essex Editor&#8217;s husband&#8217;s a collector] I&#8217;d love to have been a rock star in another life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-last-question-totally-unrelated-to-what-we-ve-chatted-about-tell-us-a-fact-about-you-no-one-knows-until-now">One last question totally unrelated to what we&#8217;ve chatted about. Tell us a fact about you no one knows – until now.</h2>



<p>I&#8217;m racking my brain – I promise I&#8217;m not just sat here! People may or may not know this, but it&#8217;s 100% true. My grandfather&#8217;s Chinese and was born in Hong Kong, and was in the same class at school as Bruce Lee! My grandad used to give me all of Bruce Lee&#8217;s films when I was young, and my mum hated it because it had violence in. But I loved it because it was so cool that my grandad went to school with him.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://trafalgartickets.com/cliffs-pavilion-southend/en-GB/event/dance/kai-widdrington-evolution-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book tickets here</a> to see Kai&#8217;s Evolution tour at Southend&#8217;s Cliffs Pavilion this Sunday 18 May.</em></p>



<p><strong>Interview: Claire Muffett-Reece</strong></p>


Muddy Essex meets Strictly Come Dancing’s Kai Widdrington

You may also like