“Tommy, you’ve got the best seat in the house,” he said to the man who has stood by the dancefloor singing the dancers through their routines since the first series in May 2004.
“He was right,” the 60-year-old tells hello! in this exclusive interview ahead of his first solo tour. “I’ve been spoilt for 20 years with the best seat in the house.”
Tommy is one of the four original stars left on Strictly, along with presenter Tess Daly, judge Craig Revel Horwood and dancer turned judge Anton Du Beke.
“There’s definitely that thing between us when we pass each other and just think: ‘We’re really old aren’t we?’” he says, laughing.
While the singer shares a close bond with the whole cast, he particularly feels a connection with head judge Shirley Ballas.
“As a fe l low Scouser and someone who started in showbiz at a young age and around the same time, we’ve always had that extra connection. Shirley has such a positive influence on the show.”
Tommy’s soulful voice has been enjoyed by millions and helped create some of the show’s most memorable moments.
His own favourite memory is from 2008, when broadcaster John Sergeant and his pro partner Kristina Rihanoff danced the paso doble. “When John dragged Kristina across the dancefloor, you could see all of us singers with our mouths agape in the background,” he says. “There’s been many wonderful moments like that.”
SURPRISE SUCCESS
ãã®èšäºã¯ HELLO! UK ã® November 06, 2023 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ HELLO! UK ã® November 06, 2023 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
STARS TURN OUT FOR THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE THE PRINCE OF WALES ROYAL HEADS TO CAPE TOWN FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS CEREMONY
The Prince of Wales's love for Africa is well known: it is where he spent his gap year before heading to university.
FAMOUS NAMES TURN OUT FOR HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT STARS GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR SPOOKY STYLE
It may have been spooky season, but that was no excuse for stylish celebrities to abandon their sartorial flair.
BIDDING A BITTERSWEET FAREWELL TO 'VENOM' TRILOGY TOM HARDY ON FLYING HIGH, LOSING HIS TEMPER AND BEING INSPIRED IN HIS CHILLING MARVEL ROLE BY SON LOUIS
When Tom Hardy attended the UK premiere of Venom: The Last Dance in London, he was accompanied by a very special fan.
STARRING IN A NEW LOVE STORY WITH LIAM HEMSWORTH LAURA DERN TALKS OF THEIR CONNECTION - AND WHY VULNERABLE WOMEN ARE SUPERHEROES
The beautiful and dramatic scenery of Morocco's Atlas Mountains is the backdrop for Laura Dern's new film Lonely Planet, a love story in which she plays novelist Katherine opposite Liam Hemsworth's private equity hotshot Owen.
GRANDDAUGHTER OF LADY PAMELA HICKS MADDISON MAY BRUDENELL AND BRET KAPETANOV UNITE THEIR DIFFERENT WORLDS! IN SOCIETY COUNTRY WEDDING
In a heartwarming ceremony filled with love, Lady Pamela Hicks's granddaughter Maddison May Brudenell said: \"I will\" at a 15th-century village church in one of the most extraordinary society weddings of the year - and HELLO! was there to witness the historic occasion.
SPEAKING OUT IN POWERFUL NEW DOCUMENTARY THE QUEEN SHOWS HER PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THEIR FAMILIES
The Queen has vowed to keep fighting for victims of domestic saying: Keep until I am able to no more.\"
PRINCESS BEATRICE AND NUTRITIONIST GABRIELA PEACOCK
HOW THE FRIENDS ARE SHARING THEIR PREGNANCY JOURNEY TOGETHER
AMERICA'S STYLE ELITE IS OUT IN FORCE FASHION'S FINEST A-LISTERS DIAL UP THE GLAMOUR TO HONOUR TOP DESIGNERS IN NEW YORK
Hollywood stars rubbed shoulders with New York's style elite as America's fashion industry gathered to honour some of its top designers.
LEGENDARY DANCER WAYNE SLEEP REFLECTS ON A LIFE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND HOW BALLET LED HIM INTO SHOWBIZ
He has danced with some of the greatest legends of ballet, partied with the biggest names in showbusiness and performed with royalty.
SPORTY, INTELLIGENT AND SHOWING AN IMPRESSIVE SENSE OF STYLE LADY LOUISE SHINES LIKE A JEWEL IN THE ROYAL CROWN AS SHE TURNS 21
As she celebrates her 21st birthday this week, Lady Louise Mountbatten Windsor is growing up into an engaging young woman.