Strictly star Thom Evans hopes show will boost his acting career

Dance fever strictly just the start for thom.

Strictly star Thom Evans is hoping to use the show to boost his acting career.

Model and former Scots rugby international Thom was part of what’s been called the best ever series. And he’s just taken to the road for the hugely popular live tour.

“I feel so lucky to have been a part of such a great show and it has opened up a few things for me,” Thom told The Sunday Post.

“I jumped at the chance to take part because it pushed me out of my comfort zone. It’s given me confidence to do things I never thought I could.

“I did a bit of presenting for This Morning but acting is where I want to go. I was doing that before Strictly and the dancing has definitely helped.

“If you’re confident and can feel how your body moves that can only help in the acting world. It’s a tough industry but I’m really enjoying it and I’m going to carry on.

“I’m waiting for that one small break but I’m in no rush.”

The quarter and semi-finals of the series saw the shock eliminations of Pixie Lott and then EastEnder Jake Wood.

But it was a rapidly improving and hotly tipped Thom who caused the first big shock when he was the fourth celebrity voted off following a dance off with eventual finalist Simon Webbe.

“Simon came on leaps and bounds and is a great dancer so if I had to go out to anyone it would have been him,” confided Thom, 29.

“I knew the talent was stronger than it had ever been but I felt I was improving every week. I’m very competitive with myself from my rugby days and I felt I didn’t really fulfil my potential.

“I was completely petrified to begin with and found it really hard to relax and perform. But when I had the Charleston on Movie Week to On The Town and saw how effortless Gene Kelly made it look, it really unlocked something in me.

“I went out there absolutely loving it and I was gutted I couldn’t have gone another few weeks.”

Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour gives Thom the chance to get his dancing shoes on again.

It started in Birmingham on Friday and comes to the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle before three days at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro.

The tour also reunites Thom with his pro partner and supposed romantic partner Iveta Lukosiute.

“I’m single and she’s single so it was always going to be that way,” says Thom of the rumours they are an item.

“But we’re just great friends and that’s all we’ve always been.

“I’ll take it as a compliment that people think there’s more because we have a good chemistry which is what the dancing involves.”

Thom reckons his Glasgow Warriors mates will be along in force at the SSE Hydro.

He says that rather than giving him stick, former playing pals were actually his biggest supporters, calling and sending texts after every show.

Although he’s bulked up a bit now, Thom saw the weight drop off amazingly during his Strictly experience.

“I was training seven hours a day and I lost two stone. I stopped doing any weights because the pro dancers had said you get a tightness when you bulk up.

“It’s a long time since I’ve been that slight and it helped to finesse some of the dances. I didn’t actually mind looking that slim but I’ll be trying to stay a bit heavier now.”

It’s five years next month since the horror accident that ended Thom’s rugby career.

He was playing in a Six Nations match against Wales in February 2010 when he suffered a spinal injury that was later revealed to have left him within a millimetre from paralysis or death.

“It was a massive turning point in my life,” adds Thom.

“I’ve been lucky in that so many great things have happened since.

“I feel blessed. It did go through my mind the first week in Strictly when I stepped out to do my waltz that it was amazing to be there.

“I had to pinch myself. I’ve said before that I was so fortunate the way I was handled by the Scotland doctor James Robson. I owe my life to him.”

Visit strictlycomedancinglive.com or call 0844 875 8758. Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, January 28 and 29; SSE Hydro Glasgow, January 30, 31 and February 1.