Hamza Yassin was crowned Strictly Come Dancing Champion 2022 on Saturday, with his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal. Here are 10 amazing facts about Hamza!

 

 

  • Hamza Yassin, who was born in Sudan on 22 February 1990. He moved to Northampton in the United Kingdom when he was eight years old, knowing no English.
  • In July 2022, Hamza received an Honorary Master of Science degree to the degree in Zoology with Conservation which he gained from Bangor in 2011 and a further master’s degree in Biological Photography and Imaging at Nottingham University.
  • Hamza was supported throughout his studies after being diagnosed as dyslexic as a teenager.
  • When Hamza was 21, he moved to Ardnamurchan in the Scottish Highlands to study the local wildlife and advance his career. He has lived there ever since.
  • For nine months he lived in his car, spending days photographing the local eagles, otters, stags and pine martens. He used to shower at the local campsite, eat at the pub and wash his clothes at the local community centre.
  • Before his Strictly success, Hamza was best known for his role as Ranger Hamza in the CBeebies show Let’s Go for a Walk, for which he wrote a book. He also appeared on Countryfile as a guest presenter and cameraman.
  • Hamza planned to study medicine at university like the rest of his family, his parents, brother and sister are all Doctors, but he decided he wanted to become a wildlife filmmaker. He switched to zoology, and they were 100 per cent behind him.
  • A former rugby player Hamza said the sport was useful for his transition to the dancefloor, especially for all the lifts.
  • Hamza lost almost 8.5kg/1.3 stone during the show, after training nine hours a day during his glitterball-chasing journey.
  • Hamza has refused to have his hair cut for the last 17 years. His long locks trail down to his calves, and he won’t let anyone with a pair of scissors anywhere near him – least of all his mum. He said: “I remember, my mum used to sit me down, me, my brother and my dad, and just give us the number two the whole time,” he recalled “I just rebelled one year, I’m like, ‘I’m done’. And that was it!” he explained.

Photo Credits: (1) BBC (2) Bangor University