The former footballer was competing on the BBC series with with Lauren Oakley
Strictly Come Dancing stars Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink and Lauren Oakley(Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has revealed that he was ‘seriously unwell’ as he made a ‘really tough’ exit admission.
The Dutch football legend, best known for playing for Chelsea and Leeds, Jimmy was taking part on the BBC dancing competition with Lauren Oakley.
Jimmy and Lauren were seen performing American Smooth to Purple Rain by Prince on the series’ icons week on Saturday night (October 25), receiving 30 points from the judges.
Despite being one of the higher scoring couples, Jimmy and Lauren learned in Sunday’s (October 26) results show that they were in the dance-off against Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, who scored 33 points for Cha Cha Cha to Break Free by Ariana Grande.
After both couples had danced a second time, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas all chose to save Amber and Nikita.
With Anton Du Beke, who this week was the judge with the casting vote, saying that he also would have chosen to save Amber and Nikita, Jimmy and Lauren went home the week before Strictly’s annual Halloween special.
Asked by Tess Daly about his time on the show, Jimmy said: “I have absolutely loved my experience. I can only say thank you very much for letting me have this experience and to my daughters for pushing me to come here and do this. I never expected that I would enjoy it this much. The people behind the scenes, from the wardrobe people to the hairdressers to the make-up people, are absolutely magnificent – thank you very much.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley leave Strictly Come Dancing(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA)
“This experience is going to live with me forever. Most importantly, [to Lauren] this girl, she is just absolutely incredible. She has been absolutely amazing with me. [To Lauren] You are a diamond.”
Hours before the results show went to air, Jimmy took to Instagram to reveal that he and Lauren were suffering from the flu as they were preparing for icons week.
“After a really tough week- being seriously unwell on Sunday, a rocky start to training on Monday, then passing the flu onto Lauren and not being able to complete training on Thursday, followed by a frustrating Friday on the main dance floor with last-minute changes and nothing quite clicking- I’m honestly so proud of what Lauren and I managed to achieve.
“Lauren, your ability to stay calm, adapt on the spot, and guide me through moments of doubt is truly remarkable. Dancing with you is the best.
“Your teaching style, your patience, and the creativity you bring to every routine are out of this world. You work so hard to help me become a dancer my daughters and I can be proud of- and for that, I’m incredibly grateful,” he wrote.
Jimmy returned to social media after the pre-recorded results show aired, telling his fans that he ‘left earlier than he’d hoped’.
He captioned the post: “I walk away proud of what I achieved. In just a few weeks, I made my point- a footballer can dance, and it’s more than okay to put yourself out there. Most importantly, I made my daughters proud.
“I showed them that stepping outside your comfort zone is worth it, and that hard work truly pays off. Lauren- thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your talent, patience, and belief in me made this journey unforgettable.
“Dancing with you has been a privilege, and I’ll always be grateful for the way you lifted me up and helped me grow. To the hidden heroes behind the scenes- hair, makeup, wardrobe/ costume, the runners, the backstage and camera crew- you are the heartbeat of this show.”
Concluding his post, Jimmy wrote: “To everyone who’s supported and voted for us. THANK YOU. To all the contestants I’ve met, it’s been a pleasure getting to know you. I’ll be cheering everyone on from the sidelines. Keep dancing and keep shining.”
