EXCLUSIVE: Strictly’s Shaun Wright-Phillips admits his dad, former footballer Ian Wright, will be ‘too nervous’ to watch him dance live on Saturday and will likely watch the next morning instead
Shaun Wright-Phillips doesn’t expect his famous father Ian Wright to be in the audience for Strictly Come Dancing – because he gets too nervous watching him perform. The 44-year-old former footballer-turned broadcaster, who has 36 caps for England, was paired with professional dancer Alexis Warr for the new series of the BBC dancing programme. Revealing Ian’s reaction when he told him he was going to be on the show, Shaun said his dad immediately started laughing. “But he said it would be good!” he added. Ian, 62, also told his son that he would enjoy the experience. However, Shaun says his dad may prefer to watch his performances the following morning after they have aired.
“I just know him – he might come to a show, but if anything, he will watch it the next morning because he gets too nervous.
“He’s been like that since we’ve been playing football, me and my brother. He tries not to watch live, he’s too emotional! So, I’ll try and get him to a show at some point.” Shaun and his brother Bradley Wright-Phillips both began their careers at Manchester City before later becoming teammates again at New York Red Bulls in 2015. While he was one of the England squad’s so-called Golden Generation playing with the likes of Wayne Rooney and David Beckham, Shaun admits when it comes to dancing he’s a complete novice. It’s not just learning the routines that is a challenge, he joked that getting used to the Strictly wardrobe is proving just as difficult.
The former winger, who works with Betway, has already had his costumes altered to make them more comfortable.
“I’m quite a simple person when it comes to getting dressed and hanging out.
“I don’t wear trousers over my belly button and I think a lot of the other male celebs have the same problem as me. Just so I stop moving them, they’ve had to put suspenders underneath my shirt to hold them up.” Despite being unfamiliar with dressing up, Shaun said he is determined to throw himself into the whole Strictly experience. “It’s cool and I’m not a dress-up person,” he said. “But I’m fully embracing it, the sequins and all that. While I’m there [at Strictly], I’m going to embrace that moment.” Shaun has also turned to former Strictly winner Karen Carney for advice ahead of his debut. The former Lioness told him to enjoy every second, work hard and respect his professional partner.
“It was pretty much the same advice that was coming into it in terms of hard work, enjoy it and in many ways respect your pro, which I would have just done from the get-go,” he said. “To have that mindset and have fun, innit? We don’t know how long we’re gonna be here, so I’m gonna try and enjoy every last moment of it.”
Shaun is in safe hands with American pro Alexis, she made it to the final with YouTube star George Clarke last year as she made her debut on the show. During his football career, Shaun played for Manchester City, Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, New York Red Bulls and Phoenix Rising FC. He has since built a career as a football pundit and broadcaster, working with organisations including the BBC, Sky Sports, ITV and the Premier League. Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One.
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