Shaun Wright-Phillips, the former professional footballer, is embracing his participation in the current series of Strictly Come Dancing, despite facing challenges adapting to the demands of the competition. The 44-year-old, who played for clubs including Manchester City and Chelsea as well as the England national team, acknowledged the difficulty of balancing technical precision with the performative elements the show requires.
Wright-Phillips and his professional dance partner, Alexis Warr, 26, are preparing to perform a salsa routine set to the Bee Gees’ “You Should Be Dancing” for Movie Week. Reflecting on his debut cha-cha routine, which earned a score of 15 from the judges, Wright-Phillips said he was focused primarily on executing the dance steps correctly, which led to a serious expression on stage. “That is kind of where I lost my happy face and went straight into ‘football serious mode’ to make sure I got all the steps right,” he explained.
The dancer emphasized that his main goal is personal improvement rather than competing directly against the other contestants. “It is not even about being the first out. I just want to be the best I can be at the dances,” Wright-Phillips said, adding that the experience of meeting the show’s cast and professional dancers is a significant part of his journey.
Despite mixed feedback from the judges—Motsi Mabuse suggested he appeared too shy, while Craig Revel Horwood gave a notably low score of 2 and expressed skepticism about Wright-Phillips’ ability to dance like a professional—the former athlete remains unfazed. He described his serious demeanor during his first performance as concentration rather than shyness or a lack of expression. “You’ve got 90 seconds, so you have to hit everything on time, otherwise it can mess up everything else,” Wright-Phillips stated.
Wright-Phillips also welcomed the judges’ critiques, drawing on his extensive experience receiving coaching and critique in football to improve his routines. “Everything the judges say, whether I agree or not, I respect it,” he said, expressing his intent to incorporate their feedback into future performances.
Alexis Warr noted that Wright-Phillips is engaging more fully with the dance’s expressive elements as their partnership progresses. “He definitely was enjoying it and he was making sound effects throughout this dance as well. We were hyping each other up, talking, saying, ‘Let’s go,’” she said.
Wright-Phillips credited his family with supporting his latest venture outside of football. He recalled discussing the show with his adopted father, Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who expressed pride in his efforts. Meanwhile, his mother, Sharon, encouraged him to be more animated in his movements. “She kept saying, ‘Come on, son, you have got to shake those hips a little bit more,’” he recalled with a smile.