Strictly Come Dancing star Graeme Hall has revealed he thought his "dancing days were over" after suffering a stroke in 2019. The Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly presenter had to stop competing in local dance competitions when he fell ill.
Stroke halted a passion for dance
Hall discovered his love for dancing in 2012 and began entering local competitions. However, his hobby came to an abrupt end when he suffered a stroke caused by a hole in the heart.
Speaking to The Standard, the 59-year-old said: "It all came to an end then. Until Strictly, I hadn't danced at all. I thought my dancing days were over and that was it. But here I am!"
A routine dedicated to hope
On Saturday's episode of the BBC show, Hall and his professional partner Lauren Oakley performed their Couple's Choice routine to The Book of Love by Peter Gabriel. The performance earned them a combined score of 28 and was dedicated to "hope" after Hall's personal experience of surviving a stroke.
In a VT shown before the routine, Hall explained that he was watching TV when he heard a "buzzing" in his ear. When he went to stand up, he fell over and was rushed to hospital.
An emotional response
Following the routine, Hall appeared visibly moved and was consoled by Oakley as well as hosts Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe. Widdicombe told the star: "I had goosebumps at the end of that, so I can only imagine how you two are feeling because that was just so beautiful, Graham."
Speaking to Johannes Radebe minutes later, Hall reflected on the moving routine: "Well when you dance something like that, it's really hard to describe the feeling. It's just uplifting and my hope is that it uplifts a few other people."
Hall told The Standard that he views every day in his Strictly experience as "another day in paradise" as he relives his passion for dancing once more. "I'm living the dream every day."
