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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Frances Kindon

Strictly's Hamza Yassin was forced to live in car after life-changing decision

Hamza Yassin is currently topping the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard thanks to his Foxtrot with pro Jowita Przystal last week.

Despite being a novice on the dancefloor, the 32-year-old CBeebies presenter and wildlife cameraman wowed the judges with his fancy footwork

But Strictly isn't the first adventure Hamza - who has also starred on Countryfile, Animal Park and The One Show - has been on.

Raised in Northampton after arriving in the UK from Sudan aged eight, he was just 21 when he decided to pack his things and drive almost 500 miles away to start a new life.

It all unfolded after the Ranger Hamza star took a holiday with a uni friend to the Ardnamurchan peninsula - one of the most remote areas of Scotland and the most westerly point of Great Britain's mainland.

The Bangor University zoology graduate immediately fell in love with the wildlife, in particular the golden eagles and the red deer.

After that, he spent one week convincing his parents of his plans to relocate and set off for the village of Kilchoan in the West Highlands.

For almost a year he lived in his estate car, washing his clothes at the community centre and using the public toilets on the jetty.

Hamza relocated to Scotland in a bid to be closer to nature (Channel 4)

After making friends with the locals, the former boy Scout lived in empty holiday homes for several years before finally buying a place of his own. And he's the village go-to for a wildlife sighting.

He told the Daily Record: "Everybody knows what I do and I have 150 pairs of eyes on wildlife for me. Someone will tell me, 'Hamza, there's buzzards nesting in the tree.' It's lovely to have that relationship."

Meanwhile, the TV star believes his dyslexia could prove to be a secret weapon as he competes for the glitter ball trophy.

Describing the condition as "a gift", the Countryfile star said it might help him to remember the steps during training sessions with his professional partner.

Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal scored the highest score of 34 (PA)

"I think in 3D, I think in pictures, I have a photographic memory and that is all due to my dyslexia," he explained.

"l truly believe my dyslexia is my gift and I am the man I am now because of it. If I can connect with one struggling kid who thinks he or she is not going to be anybody, if that kid can say, look at Hamza, he has dyslexia but he is living his dream, I'd be happy."

He added: "If I can do it anyone can. Dyslexia is not a hindrance, it is a gift."

And as for any competition between him and his Countryfile co-star Helen Skelton, Hamza insists they're all in this together.

We're all having the same feelings and we’re all one big rolling WhatsApp group and we're just constantly talking like, 'Has anyone got, you know, a make-up wipe or something along those lines?'" he told Closer magazine.

"So, competition? No. It’s probably healthy rivalry. But we're all in it to have a good time."

* Strictly continues tonight at 6.30pm on BBC One

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