BBC Strictly's Tom Dean says becoming first celeb to leave was 'a genuine shock'

Nadiya and Tom were eliminated from Strictly
-Credit: (Image: No credit)


Olympic champion Tom Dean failed to replicate his swimming pool success in the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom and was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the 2024 line-up. Now the 24 year old has broken his silence about the "genuine shock" of failing to make it past week one of the competition, saying his early departure left him "gutted".

Speaking on the Strictly companion show It Takes Two, Tom said he was "gutted" to leave the dancefloor with Nadiya Bychkova on Sunday night's show, but said he had a great time nonetheless. that he had hoped to progress further in the competition and had thoroughly enjoyed his time on the show. “I definitely wanted to go further in the competition," he revealed.

Tom Dean with Nadiya Bychkova
The pairing didn't get the news they were hoping for from the Strictly judges -Credit:PA Media

"I’m gutted, there’s no two ways about it, and I’ve thought about it loads, we’ve spoken about it loads, and I did give it my all. There was nothing more I could have given, and I loved every part of it. Some people find the training really tough, and they just enjoy the shows or the other way around, I loved it all. We trained really, really hard together, I had a great time.

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“I loved the shows on a weekend, it was really special, there was no bit I didn’t enjoy. So for it to get cut short like that, was just gutting, and as I said, I don’t know what more either of us could have done. It was a genuine shock, I just wish I could have kept going, I really, really do."

His dance partner Nadiya shared his sentiments, expressing her deep disappointment at not being able to teach him another dance routine. “It was a shock and I’m absolutely gutted that I won’t get the chance to teach this wonderful man another dance, and then maybe another dance," she revealed.

Strictly Come Dancing's Tom Dean with his partner Nadiya Bychkova.
Nadiya said she was sad she wouldn't be teaching Tom any more dance moves -Credit:BBC

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“We had so many plans, I was really excited about the movie week, what we could have done and the dance we were preparing, I had all the choreography. I just really love the show, but being able to teach someone like Tom made me fall in love with the show even more.

“It was really, really special, and I genuinely enjoyed every moment of our rehearsals, every time he walked into the room, he just brought joy, and he brought joy to Strictly.”

Unfortunately, Tom and Nadiya's cha cha routine to Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind and Fire didn't win over all the judges on Saturday's show, with head judge Shirley Ballas choosing to save Toyah Wilcox and Neil Jones instead.