Former Chelsea and England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has described his professional dance partner Alexis Warr on Strictly Come Dancing as more intimidating than his former manager Jose Mourinho, under whom he played during the mid-2000s. Speaking ahead of his potential elimination from the competition, Wright-Phillips, 44, said Mourinho’s unpredictability made the manager difficult to prepare for, while Warr’s swift critiques are relentless and intimidating. “I’m kind of prepared for when Alexis is coming, so I’ll just be like: ‘Alright, I’m just done. I’ll do it again,’” he remarked.
Wright-Phillips also revealed that his father, former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright, was unaware of the physical and mental demands of the show until observing his training sessions. “He had a laugh with us but he understood the complexities of the routine that I was learning and how hard it is,” Wright-Phillips said.
Meanwhile, Ian Wright’s distinctive appearance during ITV’s coverage of England’s 3-0 Nations League victory over Czechia attracted considerable attention. Wearing a black wool beret priced at £69 from the Kent-based independent menswear brand AWMS, paired with an oversized grey linen-cotton suit from Nottingham label Universal Works—valued at £230—Wright’s look sparked a lively response from viewers and social media users alike. Supporters made a variety of comparisons, ranging from the comedic character Frank Spencer from the British TV series *Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em* to Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson. Others satirically linked his look to retail brands, with one viewer quipping, “That’s not Frank Spencer, that’s Frank Marks & Spencer.”
Wright’s stylist, Jess Stebbings, explained that the presenter’s style tends to be timeless and classic, rather than trend-driven. “We just wanted to switch up his hats a bit,” she said, emphasizing Wright’s understanding of what suits him.
The beret proved functional during ITV’s broadcast on Tuesday, when Wright, alongside fellow pundit Roy Keane and presenter Mark Pougatch, was caught off-guard by the sudden activation of sprinklers on the Wembley pitch. As they scrambled to avoid getting drenched, Pougatch jokingly remarked to Wright, “Is that why you’ve got a hat on?” Wright’s outfit, blending fashion and practicality, clearly made an impression beyond the football.