Graeme Hall is heading to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom years after being forced to give up dancing following a stroke.
The 2026 contestant admits he is apprehensive about stepping so far outside his comfort zone, but is determined to work hard and enjoy every moment.
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The huge Strictly fan previously danced as a hobby before his stroke, and says he recovered fully following a heart operation.
Now he is preparing to return to the dancefloor, with his 90-year-old mum firmly at the heart of his motivation.
Why is Graeme Hall doing Strictly Come Dancing?
Graeme Hall said his love of dancing was one of the main reasons he agreed to join Strictly.
"I love dancing. I did a little dancing as a hobby years ago, but had to stop when I had a stroke. I recovered fully after a heart operation, but I haven't danced for years."
He is also a huge Strictly fan, regularly watching the BBC show at home and trying to predict what the judges will say.
He admitted he will be particularly anxious to hear what Craig Revel Horwood and the other judges think of his performances.
What is Graeme Hall most nervous about on Strictly?
Graeme said his biggest fear is the nerves themselves, along with the possibility of making a mistake during a live routine.
"I'm most nervous of the nerves themselves, messing up a routine on the night and letting my partner down."
The Strictly star describes himself as a perfectionist and says he will work hard to make sure his routines are right.
"'If a job's worth doing it's worth doing right' is something I say a lot and I'll work hard to get it right but there's no accounting for stage fright."
He admitted that Strictly is taking him well outside his usual comfort zone.
"Strictly is way out of my comfort zone!"
Can Graeme Hall dance?
Graeme joked that he is confident he can make his entrance down the famous Strictly staircase, but is less certain about what will happen once the dancing starts.
"I'm confident I can walk down the famous Strictly staircase looking the part. I reckon I'll be good at that, but as for actual dancing, no signature moves I'm afraid."
There is, however, one unusual routine from his school days that he still remembers.
"I was rather good with The Funky Gibbon (by The Goodies) at the school disco in 1975. Does that count…?"
Which Strictly routines does Graeme Hall want to recreate?
As a longtime viewer, Graeme already has several iconic Strictly performances in mind that he would love to emulate.
He picked Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz's quickstep to Sing, Sing, Sing as one of his favourites.
"So fast, so sharp, so elegant. Very Fred Astaire!"
He also singled out JB Gill and Lauren's 2024 Viennese Waltz to Let's Go Fly a Kite.
"It literally looked like he and Lauren were flying. Lauren's the favourite female pro in our house!"
Graeme also loved their Samba to Mas Que Nada, although he admits he has no idea how he will reproduce JB's movements.
"I've no idea how I'm going to move my hips and chest like JB, but I'll give it a go!"
What did James Martin say about Graeme Hall joining Strictly?
Graeme received a huge reaction from his friends after revealing he would be joining Strictly, including fellow Yorkshireman and chef James Martin.
"There was a bit of mickey-taking from my mates, it has to be said."
James, who reached the Strictly semi-final in 2005, was quick to warn Graeme about the challenge ahead.
"You have no idea what you're letting yourself in for!" he said.
Graeme said James was also quick to remind him about his own Strictly achievement.
"The gauntlet has been thrown down!"
What is Graeme Hall's racing career?
Away from the Strictly ballroom, Graeme spends his spare time racing a 1960s MG sports car in a speed hillclimb and sprint championship.
He has been leading the overall championship since the season began in April, but his Strictly commitments mean he will miss the final couple of events.
As a result, he admits there is a good chance he will not ultimately win the championship.
"Hey ho!"
His fellow drivers have nevertheless been supportive, with one telling him that if he loses because of Strictly, he will be "the best overall champion the championship never had".
Graeme was particularly touched by the comment.
He also revealed that he recently spun his car 360 degrees during practice after trying too hard.
One of his championship colleagues wasted no time comparing the incident to a Strictly routine.
"A pirouette Shirley Ballas would be proud of"
Graeme found the comparison very funny.
Why is Graeme Hall doing Strictly for his mum?
Graeme's biggest personal motivation for taking part in Strictly is his mum, who turns 90 on 6th September this year.
His dad died a few years ago, while his mum still lives in the bungalow where Graeme was born in Selby, North Yorkshire.
His parents also have their own connection to dancing, having met on the dancefloor in the late 1950s.
They danced jive, waltz and his mum's favourite, the quickstep.
Graeme said his parents would apparently "fly around the dancefloor" as they quickstepped past everyone else.
"I would love to make her proud."
One of his dad's sayings has also stayed with him throughout his life.
"Do your best. No one can ask any more of you"
Graeme said that advice will be firmly in his mind when he takes to the Strictly dancefloor.
"I'll 100% be doing my very best on the dancefloor for my mum and in memory of my dad."
What does Graeme Hall want to achieve on Strictly?
Graeme sees Strictly as a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best dancers in the business.
"Strictly Come Dancing is a life experience that money can't buy."
He pointed out that the 24th series features just 15 celebrities, meaning relatively few people have ever been given the opportunity to take part.
"How lucky am I…?!"
Graeme wants to enjoy every moment, work hard and hopefully remain in the competition for as many weeks as possible.
"I'm going to enjoy every single minute of it, work hard and hope it lasts for many weeks."
What is Graeme Hall's dream Strictly song?
Graeme said choosing a dream song is difficult because, as a regular Strictly viewer, he knows how important the music can be to a performance.
He would love to perform a waltz to the classic Moon River.
Alternatively, he has his eye on a much cheekier Cha Cha to Rufus Thomas' Walking the Dog.
"There's also the small matter of dancing, telling the story etc!"
He added: "sooner or later, I HAVE to dance to a dog song, right…?"
How would Graeme Hall's friends describe his dancing?
Graeme admits his friends may find his dancing skills rather unexpected.
"I think they might say it was erm… surprising."
However, he is leaving the final verdict to the Strictly judges and viewers.
"I'll let everyone else judge whether that's surprisingly good or otherwise, ha ha!"
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