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‘I was in the Strictly audience and here’s what you don’t see on TV’

AnyFans 2025-09-22

By Kimberly Nhundu

'I was in the Strictly audience and here’s what you don’t see on TV'

Reality star Sam Thompson has admitted he is ‘glad’ that his friends won’t be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this year, after shedding light on how gruelling the live shows can be. Sam, 33, attended live performances to support his ex-girlfriend Zara McDermott during her 2023 BBC stint, alongside dance partner Graziano Di Prima . He was brought back into the Strictly world just a year later when his best friend and business partner Pete Wicks joined the show. The I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! winner is no stranger to the woes of TV production, having spent years behind the scenes of reality programmes. However, the Strictly live shows certainly left a mark on him. Speaking exclusively to Reach, Sam revealed behind the scenes truths viewers might be surprised to learn. He said: “Strictly’s a long show. Strictly’s a long show. My god, you go and watch that live show and it’s a six-hour ordeal.” While the show’s episodes rarely run over 90 minutes, Sam shared that live audiences are strapped to their chairs for hours with minimal luxuries. “You are only there to watch your person [but] you sit there for six hours. And they don’t give you much in terms of amenities. You get one carton of water and that’s about it for six hours,” he added, laughing. “It’s a long show,” he continued, before admitting: “I’m pretty glad that none of my friends are doing it this year. So, there’ll be no live shows for me this year.” Though he has brushed shoulders with former Strictly stars, the 33-year-old doesn’t think he’ll ever compete for the glitter trophy. In the same chat, he also shed light on his stint in the I’m A Celeb Jungle, explaining that the experiment is “more real than everyone understands.” He said: “You are literally in the middle of a jungle and no one is coming to help, I mean they are if you need, but you sit around that campsite for four weeks.” “You don’t speak to producers or anything like that, it’s literally just you and the people that you’re with,” he continued, before adding: “That’s why it’s so beautiful.” Strictly Come Dancing returns this Saturday at 6:40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.