Strictly champ Hamza Yassin tipped to replace David Attenborough with TV bosses lining up
Hamza #Hamza
TV bosses are queuing up to sign Hamza Yassin after his star turn on this year’s Strictly.
The wildlife presenter, 32, has won an army of fans thanks to his hairraising performances on the hit show.
He began the contest with odds of 25/1 at bookmakers before blowing everyone away with his talent.
He has since become something of a national treasure and is even being tipped to take over from David Attenborough on top nature programmes.
And the Sudan-born cameraman – with his knee-length dreadlocks – is now being tipped to land a top BBC nature show.
TV executives are also eyeing him up for presenting slots on programmes including The One Show – which will come with a big pay rise, sources said.
Hamza and his Polish pro partner Jowita Przystal, 28, went toe to toe with ex-Countryfile host Helen Skelton, 39, in a closely fought final.
The pair danced their much-lovedsalsa to Ecuador by Sash! featuring Rodriguez, which had earned them their highest score of the series with 39 out of 40 in week four.
Then it was their couple’s choice to Jerusalema Remix by Master KG featuring Burna Boy and Nomcebo Zikode before performing their showdance to Let’s Face the Music and Dance by Irving Berlin.
A source said: “Hamza has opened the door to so many opportunities.
“He has proven he has a huge fan base and the likability factor – he will go from strength to strength.”
Hamza’s grand reveal on Strictly in September was met with both shrugs and raised eyebrows since many people had never heard of him.
And now he is being lined up to follow in Sir David’s footsteps.
Hamza said: “I ’ve worked on a lot of his projects, a lot of his films, but he’s narrated my stuff, which to me is the biggest honour ever. But I haven’t met him physically
One day, hopefully. Steve Irwin and Attenborough lit the spark in me. If I can just pass that love of Mother Nature and inspire the next generation, then we’re going to look after the world.”
Villagers from his hometown of Kilchoan, which lies across the water from the island of Mull in the Scottish Highlands, last night celebrated their man reaching the finals.
Hamza went from a freelance wildlife cameraman and odd-job man to a national celebrity, and his neighbours insisted fame wouldn’t change him.
The dyslexic presenter, who featured in CBeebies rambling show Let’s Go For A Walk for under-fives, said he’d hoped his appearance on Strictly would inspire others.
“Inclusivity, that’s what I like about dance, anybody can do it,” he said. “No matter how small, big, large, whatever it is, tall, short, you can do it. And I’ve fallen in love with it.”
More than 10 million viewers were expected to have watched last night.
They saw Helen and partner Gorka Marquez perform Mein Herr from Cabaret as their favourite dance.
Former X Factor finalist Fleur East, 35, and Vito Coppola picked a Destiny’s Child mix track, and kids’ TV host Molly Rainford, 22, and Carlos Gu danced a rumba to Whitney Houston’s All the Man That I Need.