Meet Ugo Monye: Strictly Come Dancing 2021 contestant and former rugby player
Everything you need to know about Strictly's rugby star.
We enter week five this weekend on Strictly Come Dancing 2021, and all the competing contestants will be hoping that they have a good week when they take their position on the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard.
Among the famous faces slipping on the sparkles is Ugo Monye, who has the good fortune of dancing alongside reigning champion Oti Mabuse. He had to miss last week due to a back injury but he makes his ballroom return this week. Now the Week Five Strictly Come Dancing songs and dances have been revealed, so we know that his next dance is going to be a Rumba to Leave The Door Open by Bruno Mars, Anderson. Paak, and Silk Sonic.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2021 line-up has taken a couple of knocks this year with comedian Robert Webb being one of the contestants who has had to drop out. TV presenter Judi Love will be missing in action this week but is due to return.
Former rugby player Ugo Monye revealed his participation in the BBC dancing hit on The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan – but who is the former rugby star?
Read on for everything you need to know about Ugo Monye.
Who is Ugo Monye?
Age: 38
Job: Broadcaster and former rugby player
Partnered with: Oti Mabuse
Ugo Monye is best known for his impressive Rugby Union career, which spanned from 2002 until 2015. Monye played for Harlequins for more than 10 years, winning both the second division, the Premiership title and the European Rugby Challenge Cup while on the team.
He played for England from 2009 and retired in 2015, after which he became a broadcaster, hosting rugby coverage for BT Sport, ITV and the BBC 5 Live Rugby Union Weekly podcast. He was recently named one of the new team captains on BBC One's A Question of Sport.
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Ugo's Strictly journey
Scoreboard
Week One: Samba (3 + 5 + 5 + 5) = 18
Week Two: Quickstep (3 + 5 + 5 + 5) = 18
Week Three: Couples Choice (7 + 8 + 8 + 8) = 31
Ugo Monye had a big score jump for week three so having to miss the following week did not come at an ideal time. Here's hoping he still has that momentum upon his return.
Ugo broke his Strictly Come Dancing news on The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan, with the rugby pundit becoming the fifteenth and final contestant to join the line-up.
"What a dream come true! Strictly is the biggest entertainment show on TV and I can’t wait to show everyone I’ve got more than just dad dancing moves," he said in a statement when news of his participation was announced.
"My two beautiful daughters never had a chance to see me on the rugby pitch, so to know they can watch me waltzing and twirling every week is really special to me. I love an outfit at the best of times, so bring on the sequins!"
Strictly is expected to return to the BBC in Autumn 2021. Want something else to watch? Check out our full TV Guide or visit our dedicated Entertainment hub.
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