Kai Widdrington is famous for his impressive dancing on Strictly Come Dancing, but he could have chosen a different path like his dad.
The 28-year-old is the son of Tommy Widdrington – a former Premier League soccer player, and the current manager of Aldershot Town – and it seemed likely he would follow in his father’s footsteps.
Looking back at his journey to the BBC ballroom, Kai likened himself to Billy Elliot after informing Tommy at 12 years old that he wanted to dance.
‘I got a contract offer from Southampton to be a left-back and I’m a right-footed left-back so I could play with both feet,’ he recalled to talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs show.
‘So I was half decent right and I was quite quick and I turned it down to dance with the British champion. Bearing in mind at this time I wasn’t very good, but apparently, she fancied me right.
‘So I was like “yeah go on then!”‘
In contrast to the 2000 film where Jackie rejected his son’s ballet dream, Tommy supported Kai in pursuing his goal when he had to choose between the two worlds.
Kai had to pick between soccer and dance due to scheduling conflicts – both soccer matches and dance competitions were on Sundays, and performing Salsas was more appealing than getting involved in tackles.
‘The conversation I had with my old man was like “Listen Dad, I just love dancing that little bit more” and to be fair to him, I was never worried to tell him. That’s how I knew it was going to be ok,’ he explained.
‘You know, during the week where he’d be training with Salisbury or wherever else he was, he would drive me two hours to have an hours lesson then drive me back, he was the most supportive dad.
‘He was and wasn’t the Billy Elliot dad!’
Prior to committing to dance, Kai trained with Luke Shaw at Southampton’s academy.
Years later, he still remembers ‘rainbow flicking’ the Manchester United and England player in one session.
The impressive move involves rolling the ball up the back of one leg with the opposite foot, before using the standing foot to flick the ball forwards and over the head. It is usually carried out while running forward.
Even Kai was surprised at his own skills: ‘I’d never done that in my life, I was on trial wearing blades on an astroturf and getting rinsed, so I rainbow flicked.
‘He’s probably not bothered now on a quarter of a million pounds a week at Man United!’
Proud dad Tommy added: ‘Kai has no regrets about soccer. He is Premier League in terms of what he is doing.’
Kai was a World Junior Latin American champion aged 14 and secured a role on the BBC juggernaut in 2021 after previously being part of Ireland’s version. He reached the final with AJ Odudu in his first year but the couple had to withdraw due to an injury, and most recently achieved seventh place with Angela Rippon. He’s currently getting ready for his tour, Behind the Magic, with his girlfriend Nadiya Bychkova.
‘He could have signed for Saints when we moved to the South. The man who was left back at the time was Luke Shaw,’ said Tommy.
‘I remember them saying to me when he went on trial: “I am not sure he is better than the one we have got (Luke) but we will keep him.”‘
Kai’s younger brother Theo did follow their dad into football and currently plays for the National League team Aldershot Town.
Strictly Come Dancing series 21 is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
