Strictly Come Dancing's Graeme Swann on nerves, sex symbols and the World Cup

Strictly Come Dancing: Graeme Swann made his dance floor debut last weekend
BBC
Barney Davis @BarneyDavisES26 September 2018

Cricket star Graeme Swann has credited the “intense” Strictly Come Dancing training schedule for helping him lose weight and win a legion of admirers.

The former England spin bowler, 39, who delighted judges on Saturday with his energetic debut performance, has shed one-and-a-half stone since he started dancing three weeks ago.

Swann, whose performance included several pelvic thrusts, said he only noticed his slender figure when he shared a picture of his fake tan on Instagram.

He told the Standard: “I put a picture up as a joke. Then I looked at it properly and thought, ‘I’ve actually lost a lot of weight from dancing.’

Samba: Graeme Swann hit the ground running with one of the hardest dances in week one
BBC/Guy Levy

“The only thing I’m worried about is everyone calling me a ‘shock’ sex symbol. That is a back-handed compliment if ever I heard one.”

The father of three said the regime is so demanding that it could even have extended his sporting career.

“I didn’t like cricket towards the end of my career because all the younger, fitter lads were coming through,” he said. “But I’d be okay now, I think, with my dancing training.”

Partners: Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse (BBC)
PA

Swann spoke as he launched the Cricket World Cup Schools Programme to get one million children involved in the sport during next year’s World Cup.

He said: “I really want it to cross over. The kids recognise me more from one episode of Strictly than the 60 Test matches I played for my country. In some parts of the world, the cricket World Cup is bigger than the football World Cup. We have to inspire kids to get into it.”

He also spoke about his first Strictly dance with his partner Oti Mabuse, 28. They received 22 points for their samba to Soul Limbo by Booker T and The MG’s. Swann said he was “really fired up” before going on stage.

“I felt like I was going out to get five wickets,” he said. “But it was more nerve-wracking than playing cricket for my country. I was bloody good at cricket and I knew it. But going on Strictly is unknown territory.”

Judge Bruno Tonioli told the audience afterwards: “He’s dislocated his groin for your viewing pleasure.”

Dancing: Graeme Swann is the latest cricket star to compete in Strictly Come Dancing
BBC/PA Wire

Of Mabuse, Swann said: “I think Oti is the best choreographer in the world and she trains the living daylights out of you.

“She has got this reputation as being really fierce, but really she just doesn’t hand out false praise. I love that.”

Despite wanting to be entertaining, Swann said he is determined not to become the competition’s “joke act”.

“I want my kids to be inspired by me,” he added.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday 29 September at 6.30pm on BBC One.

Strictly Come Dancing 2018 - Week One - In Pictures

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