Alex Brooker has exclusively revealed to the Mirror that he can’t see himself appearing on Strictly Come Dancing any time soon – thanks to Chris McCausland
Alex Brooker has opened up about ruling out Strictly and his return to Soccer Aid
Alex Brooker has revealed he wouldn’t stand a chance on Strictly Come Dancing after pal Chris McCausland won the show. Actor and comedian Chris made history when he became the first blind person to appear on the show in December last year.
Defying the odds, McCausland went on to win the competition with his dance partner, Australian beauty Dianne Buswell. But Alex now admits thanks to Chris, he can’t participate on the programme as he wouldn’t be as good as the comedian.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Alex said: “I’ll be honest with you, I said this on Last Leg at New Year when we had Chris McCausland on, I said it to him direct, the first time I saw Chris on Strictly, I said it was the best thing I’d seen. It blew my mind how he did it. The word inspiration is thrown around loads with disabled people.
“I get called inspirational if I open a can of drink, it’s always knocking about but it inspired me so much. I said ‘This guy is incredible,’ that’s phenomenal. I was so delighted he won. However, with that, he’s ruined it for any disabled person who goes on after that because none of us will ever be as good as that.”
Alex admits while he could see himself progressing on Strictly, he’d never be able to compete against Chris McCausland(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
The broadcaster, 40, went on to joke: “I could go on Strictly, do a load of weeks on there, hold up the dancer with one hand doing the Foxtrot and still people will go ‘Yeah, Chris McCausland did the whole thing and he couldn’t see’, there’s no better than Chris for me with Strictly.”
But Chris isn’t Alex’s only pal to appear on the show – comedian Josh Widdicombe appeared on the Christmas special last year, dancing to Let It Snow with Karen Hauer, while dressed as a penguin. This speared Alex on after Josh couldn’t resist flashing his ripped physique.
He said: “Josh Widdicombe is one of my best mates, watching him on the Christmas special was a joy. Dressed as a penguin, I couldn’t have asked for any more from it as a viewer, let alone as one of his pals. He was so good but honestly, you should see the shape he got in.
Chris made history by becoming the first blind contestant and went on to win the programme(Image: PA)
“He’d come into Last Leg and he was showing me his abs during training, he’s got a tidy body on him. He was dancing five hours a day, he got absolutely ripped and he still is. From that point of view, I could do with that training regime in the run up to Soccer Aid this year.”
Last year, Alex appeared on ITV’s The Masked Singer as Bigfoot which he hadn’t even told his daughters about. Speaking about their reaction, Alex said: “Last year with The Masked Singer, my girl’s reaction to that is still phenomenal when I got unmasked.” Previously, he’s appeared on the I’m A Celebrity spin-off show which made him decide never to participate on the main show.
During his time on the show, alongside Joe Swash, he competed in a mini Bushtucker Trial – attempting to see how many fish eyes he could fit in his mouth. He said: “In terms of Bushtucker Trials, that’s not even touching the sides. I was ill for like a whole day after that, I’m not so sure I’m cut out for it. The good thing for me, Last Leg is always on at the same time as I’m A Celebrity. Maybe one day if our schedule changes, maybe.”
His pal Josh Widdicombe (left) also appeared on Strictly and had an impressive transformation (Image: Getty Images for The National Lo)
This year, Alex is returning to Soccer Aid for UNICEF for the fourth time and will be playing alongside the likes of Louis Tomlinson, Tom Grennan, Jill Scott, Sam Thompson and Toni Duggan. “I love it, I really do love it,” he said of making his return, adding that he doesn’t take “it for granted” when he’s asked back.
He added: “I treat every time I’ve played as if it’ll be the only time I get to do it. It’s the best thing I do all year, apart from stuff with my family – it’s awesome. I cannot wait for it, I can’t wait to see everyone at training week.
“It’s a little family that you get to see for a week every year, the event itself is just phenomenal, it’s always blown my mind watching it.” Alex said he remembered seeing footballing legend Diego Maradona playing and realising how unique the event actually is.
“I remember watching the one when Ben Shephard was sent off and shouting at the telly ‘You can’t send him off’, the mix of people you get,” he said, adding: “You’ve got someone like me who’s wearing Number 14 and you’ve got someone like Theo Walcott on the England team wearing Number 14.
“We’re very different physiques and I would say very much opposite ends of the speed scale. It’s this wonderful unique event for the best cause in UNICEF. Last year we went past the £106 million mark in terms of money raised, so to be part of something that’s had such a massive difference to people and continues to, it’s awesome.”
This year, Alex returns to Soccer Aid for the fourth time and admits its one of the highlights of his year(Image: ©UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures)
The family aspect of Soccer Aid is hugely important to Alex, noting that family friendly telly shows are “few and far between these days”. Another aspect he loves is the mix of famous faces who take part, including American social media star Noah Beck, who left Brooker’s little siblings “so excited.”
“There’s something for everyone with Soccer Aid,” he said before adding: “The cause itself and the money raised. Two years ago I got to go away with UNICEF on one of their trips and we went to a disaster refugee camp in Jordan and I got to see first hand myself, the difference that UNICEF’s work makes to children, the most vulnerable people. The fact that UNICEF is there for everyone all around the world.
“I don’t think there can be a better cause than helping out young kids, I just don’t think there is. The amount of kids that get to come out and watch it here, the fact they’re in the grounds and the money raised from that, it helps children everywhere.”
Alex who was born with defects of his hands and arms and a twisted right leg which led to an amputation is a fierce campaigner for inclusivity. Now, he admits that things are “progressing” for inclusivity but admits that “any meaningful change takes time.”
He admits that you “cannot underestimate” the difference to his own childhood compared to children nowadays. Alex commented: “I think that things are moving in the right direction, there’s still a way to go but I feel like for younger people, the opportunities.
“Through Last Leg I worked closely with the Paralympics – the open days for young people to try sports. When I was 13, I remember discovering disability football through just going to an open day at my local leisure centre.
“It’s the first time I’d ever done sports with other disabled people or even being around other disabled people. That was massive for me – the fact that those opportunities are so widespread now is huge.”
Alex is often inundated with messages from parents of children with disabilities who praise him for participating in Soccer Aid as they feel “represented”. He said: “It’s a tough one for me, playing football isn’t an easy thing for me to do. It’s something I was openly discouraged from doing when I was a kid by Doctors.
“There’s a reason for it, my body isn’t kind of made out for football as much as I wish it was but to be involved and to represent disabled people, I’m never going to be able to do anything more important than that. Obviously you’re doing it for this amazing cause, I get so much out of it.
“One of the reasons why I’m so excited is, I love being a part of it, just a small part of something so huge – that’s why it’s the best thing that I do.”
The match takes place on Sunday 15th of June at Old Trafford, Manchester, with adult tickets priced at £20 and juniors from £10. Tickets are available now on the Soccer Aid for UNICEF website.
