Kai Widdrington
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Choreographer
Kai Widdrington | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1995-08-23) 23 August 1995 (age 30) Southampton, England |
| Occupations | Dancer Choreographer |
| Known for | Dancing with the Stars (Irish TV series) Britain's Got Talent Strictly Come Dancing |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Parent | Tommy Widdrington |
| Relatives | Theo Widdrington (brother) |
Kai Widdrington (born 23 August 1995) is an English dancer and choreographer. Kai Widdrington was the south of England 1500 meter champion in 2009. In 2010, he was the Junior World Latin American champion. In 2012, he reached the final of the sixth series of Britain's Got Talent. Between 2017 and 2020, he was a professional dancer on the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars, and in 2021, he became a professional dancer on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.
Widdrington was born in Southampton, England[1][2] to former Premier League footballer Tommy Widdrington and mother Candice.[3] His younger brother Theo currently plays for Aldershot Town F.C. Widdrington was also set to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a professional footballer, but aged 12 chose a dancing career instead of a Premier League contract. By the time he was 14, he was the World Junior Latin American champion.[4] Widdrington also has a younger sister.[5]
Widdrington is of part Chinese descent. His maternal grandfather is half Chinese and said to have been at school in the same class as actor Bruce Lee.[6]
Career
Britain's Got Talent
In 2012, Widdrington formed a dance partnership with Natalia Jeved, both of whom auditioned for the sixth series of Britain's Got Talent. The pair managed to reach the live final coming 11th and last place.[7] Two years later, in 2014, Widdrington made a second appearance on the programme during its eighth series, as part of the ballroom dance group Kings & Queens, working alongside future Strictly Come Dancing professionals Katya Jones and Neil Jones, and future Dancing with the Stars professionals Ksenia Zsikhotska and Ryan McShane.[8] The group managed to reach the semi-finals of the series, but were ultimately eliminated from the competition by that stage.[9]
Dancing with the Stars
In 2017, Widdrington was announced as one of the professional dancers for the first series of Dancing with the Stars in Ireland.[10] He was partnered with comedian and actress Katherine Lynch. They were eliminated in week nine of the competition, finishing in sixth place.[11]
In 2018, Widdrington was partnered with camogie player Anna Geary. They reached the final of the show, finishing as joint-runners up alongside Deirdre O'Kane and John Nolan.[12]
In 2019, Widdrington was partnered with teenage actress Demi Isaac Oviawe.[13] They were eliminated in week seven of the competition, finishing in eighth place.[14]
In 2020, Widdrington was paired with Miss Universe Ireland 2018, Gráinne Gallanagh.[15] On 15 March 2020, it was announced that the scheduled semi-final had become the final due to precautions around the COVID-19 pandemic halting production early. Gallanagh and Widdrington were one of the four couples in the final, and they finished as runners-up to winners Lottie Ryan and Pasquale La Rocca.[16]
| Series | Partner | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katherine Lynch | 6th |
| 2 | Anna Geary | 2nd |
| 3 | Demi Isaac Oviawe | 8th |
| 4 | Gráinne Gallanagh | 2nd |
Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance
| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Smooth | Anna Geary | 22 | ||
| Cha-cha-cha | Katherine Lynch | 18 | Demi Isaac Oviawe | 10 |
| Charleston | Anna Geary Gráinne Gallanagh |
30 | Katherine Lynch | 23 |
| Contemporary Ballroom | Anna Geary Gráinne Gallanagh |
27 | ||
| Foxtrot | Aoibhín Garrihy1 | 28 | Demi Isaac Oviawe | 14 |
| Jive | Anna Geary | 29 | Katherine Lynch | 19 |
| Paso Doble | Gráinne Gallanagh | 25 | Anna Geary | 22 |
| Quickstep | Gráinne Gallanagh | 25 | Katherine Lynch | 21 |
| Rumba | Anna Geary | 24 | Demi Isaac Oviawe | 16 |
| Salsa | Anna Geary | 30 | Demi Isaac Oviawe | 20 |
| Samba | Gráinne Gallanagh | 22 | Katherine Lynch | 16 |
| Showdance | Anna Geary | 30 | ||
| Tango | Anna Geary | 28 | Gráinne Gallanagh | 18 |
| Viennese Waltz | Gráinne Gallanagh | 30 | Demi Isaac Oviawe | 21 |
| Waltz | Katherine Lynch | 18 |
1 This score was awarded during Switch-Up Week.
Series 1
Celebrity partner: Katherine Lynch
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Waltz | "If You Go Away" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | No Elimination |
| 3 | Cha-cha-cha | "Express Yourself" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | Safe |
| 4 | Samba | "Voulez-Vous" | 5 | 5 | 6 | 16 | Safe |
| 5 | Foxtrot | "Summertime" | 7 | 8 | 7[b] | 22 | Safe |
| 6 | Quickstep | "You're the One That I Want" | 7 | 7 | 7[c] | 21 | Safe |
| 7[d] | Foxtrot | "Big Bad Handsome Man" | 9 | 10 | 9[e] | 28 | No Elimination |
| 8 | Charleston | "Cabaret" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | Safe |
| 9 | Jive | "Proud Mary" | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 | Eliminated |
- Notes
- ↑ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry, Julian Benson.
- ↑ Darren Bennett filled in for Julian Benson during Week 5.
- ↑ Darren Bennett also filled in for Julian Benson during Week 6.
- ↑ Kai danced with Aoibhín Garrihy for this week only as it was Switch-Up Week.
- ↑ Darren Bennett once again filled in for Julian Benson during Week 7.
Series 2
Celebrity partner: Anna Geary
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Tango | "Rebel Rebel" | 6 | 8 | 7[b] | 21 | No Elimination |
| 3 | Samba | "New Rules" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | Safe |
| 4 | Contemporary Ballroom | "Let It Go" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| 5 | Paso Doble | "Titanium" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 22 | Safe |
| 6[c] | Tango | "Green Light" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | No Elimination |
| 7 | Charleston | "Bang Bang" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | Safe |
| 8 | American Smooth | "Achy Breaky Heart" | 7 | 7 | 8 | 22 | Safe |
| 9 | Rumba Team Dance |
"Secret Love Song" "Party Rock Anthem" |
8 8 |
8 8 |
8 9 |
24 25 |
Safe |
| 10 | Jive Swing-a-thon |
"Time Warp" "You Can't Stop the Beat" |
9 | 10 | 10 | 33[d] | Safe |
| 11 | Foxtrot Salsa |
"Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Me in Its Spotlight)" "Don't Stop the Music" |
8 10 |
8 10 |
8 10 |
24 30 |
Safe |
| 12 | Tango Charleston Showdance |
"Rebel Rebel" "Bang Bang" "This Is Me" |
9 10 10 |
10 10 10 |
9 10 10 |
28 30 30 |
Runners-up |
- Notes
- ↑ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry, Julian Benson.
- ↑ Darren Bennett filled in for Julian Benson during Week 2.
- ↑ Kai danced with Alannah Beirne for this week only as it was Switch-Up Week.
- ↑ Anna & Kai were awarded 4 extra points for coming second place in the Swing-a-thon.
Series 3
Celebrity partner: Demi Isaac Oviawe
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Cha-cha-cha | "Cut to the Feeling" | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | No Elimination |
| 3 | Foxtrot | "After All" | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 | Safe |
| 4 | Salsa | "One Night Only" | 6 | 6 | 8 | 20 | Safe |
| 5 | Rumba | "Dance with My Father" | 5 | 5 | 6 | 16 | Safe |
| 6[b] | Salsa | "Dance Again" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 26 | No Elimination |
| 7 | Viennese Waltz | "Fallin'" | 7 | 7 | 7[c] | 21 | Eliminated |
- Notes
- ↑ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry, Julian Benson.
- ↑ Kai danced with Mairéad Ronan for this week only as it was Switch-Up Week.
- ↑ Darren Bennett filled in for Julian Benson during Week 7.
Series 4
Celebrity partner: Gráinne Gallanagh
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Tango | "Bang Bang" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 | No Elimination |
| 3 | Jive | "Dear Future Husband" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 | Safe |
| 4 | Salsa | "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 | Safe |
| 5 | Contemporary Ballroom | "Unstoppable" | 9 | 9 | 9 | 27 | Safe |
| 6[b] | Quickstep | "Out of Our Heads" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 | No Elimination |
| 7 | Quickstep | "Paper Rings" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 25 | Safe |
| 8 | Viennese Waltz | "Waltz of the Flowers" | 10 | 10 | 10[c] | 30 | Safe |
| 9 | Paso Doble Team Dance |
"I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" "Physical" |
8 8 |
9 8 |
8 8[d] |
25 24 |
Bottom two |
| 10 | Samba Rock-Til-You-Drop |
"Wonder Woman Theme" "Happy Days" |
7 | 8 | 7[e] | 24[f] | Safe |
| 11 | Foxtrot Charleston[g] |
"Falling" "Dance Apocalyptic" |
9 10 |
9 10 |
9 10[h] |
27 30 |
Runners-up |
- Notes
- ↑ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry, Julian Benson.
- ↑ Kai danced with Brian Dowling for this week only as it was Switch-Up Week.
- ↑ Darren Bennett filled in for Julian Benson during Week 8.
- ↑ Darren Bennett also filled in for Julian Benson during Week 9.
- ↑ Darren Bennett once again filled in for Julian Benson during Week 10.
- ↑ Gráinne & Kai were awarded 2 extra points for coming fourth place in the Rock-Til-You-Drop.
- ↑ Gráinne & Kai danced their Charleston with Stephen Vincent.
- ↑ Darren Bennett, for the fourth week running, filled in for Julian Benson during Week 11.
Strictly Come Dancing
From September 2021, he appeared as a professional dancer on the nineteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with television presenter AJ Odudu.[17] In their first week the couple topped the leaderboard with a score of 34 for their jive to Gold Dust by DJ Fresh. Judge Motsi Mabuse hailed the routine "the best dance of the evening, without a doubt."[18] The couple qualified for the final but had to withdraw the day before after Odudu suffered an ankle injury.
For the twentieth series, Widdrington was partnered with Loose Women panellist, Kaye Adams. They were the first couple to be eliminated from the series after losing the first dance off to Matt Goss and Nadiya Bychkova. On 30 November 2022, it was announced he would dance with Alexandra Mardell for the 2022 Strictly Christmas Special; they eventually won the competition with a perfect score on their quickstep.
For the twenty-first series, Widdrington was partnered with television presenter and journalist, Angela Rippon. They finished 7th, being eliminated in week 9 after losing the dance off to Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell.
In 2024 Widdrington returned for the twenty-second series but was not paired with a celebrity partner. He went on to win the Christmas Special dancing a Cha-cha-cha with Welsh drag queen Tayce, in December 2024, with Tayce becoming the first drag queen to compete on Strictly Come Dancing. The pair scored maximum points from all four judges.[19][20]
For the twenty-third series, Widdrington was partnered with television personality Vicky Pattison.
| Series | Partner | Place | Average score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | AJ Odudu | 3rd | 34.6 |
| 20 | Kaye Adams | 15th | 21.5 |
| 21 | Angela Rippon | 7th | 30.1 |
| 23 | Vicky Pattison | 8th | 28.8 |
Highest and Lowest Scoring Per Dance
| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Smooth | AJ Odudu | 35 | Angela Rippon | 30 |
| Argentine Tango | 34 | |||
| Cha-cha-cha | Angela Rippon | 28 | Vicky Pattison | 23 |
| Charleston | AJ Odudu | 39 | Kaye Adams | 22 |
| Couple's Choice | 36 | Vicky Pattison | 33 | |
| Foxtrot | AJ Odudu Angela Rippon |
31 | 24 | |
| Jive | AJ Odudu | 34 | 27 | |
| Paso Doble | Angela Rippon | 32 | AJ Odudu | 28 |
| Quickstep | AJ Odudu | 40 | Angela Rippon | 26 |
| Rumba | 39 | 31 | ||
| Salsa | 30 | |||
| Samba | Vicky Pattison | 29 | AJ Odudu | 28 |
| Showdance | ||||
| Tango | Vicky Pattison | 39 | Kaye Adams | 21 |
| Viennese Waltz | AJ Odudu | 40 | ||
| Waltz | 38 | Angela Rippon | 28 |
Series 19
Celebrity partner: AJ Odudu
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jive | "Gold Dust" | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Foxtrot | "Tears Dry on Their Own" | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 3 | American Smooth | "I Have Nothing" | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 4 | Samba | "Don't Go Yet" | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 28 | Safe |
| 5 | Argentine Tango | "Edge of Seventeen" | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 35 | Safe |
| 6 | Viennese Waltz | "Dangerous Woman" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 37 | Safe |
| 7 | Charleston | "Don't Bring Lulu" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe |
| 8 | Paso Doble | "Game of Survival" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 28 | Safe |
| 9 | Waltz | "Edelweis" | 9[b] | 10 | 10 | 9 | 38 | Safe |
| 10 | Couple's Choice | "Make Me Feel" | 9 | 8[c] | 10 | 9 | 36 | Safe |
| 11 | Salsa | "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/Get on Your Feet" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 30 | Bottom two |
| 12 | Quickstep Rumba |
"Sing Sing Sing" "Show Me Heaven" |
10 9 |
10 10 |
10 10 |
10 10 |
40 39 |
Withdrew |
- Notes
- ↑ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
- ↑ Cynthia Erivo filled in for Craig Revel Horwood during Week 9.
- ↑ Cynthia Erivo also filled in for Motsi Mabuse during Week 10.
Series 20
Celebrity partner: Kaye Adams
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tango | "Voulez-Vous" | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 21 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Charleston | "Music! Music! Music!" | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 22 | Eliminated |
- Notes
- ↑ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Series 21
Celebrity partner: Angela Rippon
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-cha-cha | "Get the Party Started" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Foxtrot | "You Make Me Feel So Young" | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 3 | Quickstep | "Do-Re-Mi" | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 26 | Safe |
| 4 | Rumba | "Rise Like a Phoenix" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 5 | Argentine Tango | "Tanguera" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 34 | Safe |
| 6 | Charleston | "Theme from Murder, She Wrote" | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 33 | Safe |
| 7 | Waltz | "Fascination" | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 28 | Bottom two |
| 8 | Paso Doble | "Hung Up" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 32 | Bottom two |
| 9 | American Smooth | "Tea for Two" | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 30 | Eliminated |
- Notes
- ↑ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Series 23
Celebrity partner: Vicky Pattison
| Week | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha-cha-cha | "Best of My Love" | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 23 | No Elimination |
| 2 | Foxtrot | "Rein Me In" | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 24 | Safe |
| 3 | Charleston | "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got)" | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 25 | Safe |
| 4 | Samba | "La Isla Bonita" | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 | Safe |
| 5 | Couple's choice | "Fight for This Love" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 33 | Safe |
| 6 | American Smooth | "Total Eclipse of the Heart" | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | Safe |
| 7 | Tango | "The Fate of Ophelia" | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 39 | Safe[21] |
| 8 | Jive | "Sound of the Underground" | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 | Eliminated |
- Notes
- ↑ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Christmas Specials
| Year | Celebrity partner | Dance | Music | Judges' scores[a] | Total score | Result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Alexandra Mardell | Quickstep | "Sleigh Ride" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | Winners |
| 2024 | Tayce | Cha-Cha-Cha | "100 Degrees" | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | Winners |
| 2025 | Melanie Blatt | Theatre/Jazz | "Santa Baby" | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 36 | Participant |
- Notes
- ↑ Individual judges' scores are listed in the following order: Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke.
Personal life
From 2016 to 2021, Widdrington was in a relationship with professional dancer and fellow Dancing with the Stars professional, Giulia Dotta.[22][23] In June 2022, it was reported that he was in a relationship with fellow Strictly professional dancer, Nadiya Bychkova, but they were reported to have ended their relationship in July 2024.[24]
Dance tours
In September 2025, Widdrington & Lauren Oakley announced they were to appear at "Dancing With The Stars Weekends" 2026.[25]
References
- ↑ "Southampton dance duo through to Britain's Got Talent semi-finals". Daily Echo. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ↑ "'I love being from Southampton': Strictly's new star talks city pride and inspiring others". Daily Echo. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
- ↑ Shillock, Francesca (13 February 2021). "Meet Strictly star Kai Widdrington's family". Hello!. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ "Four new professional dancers announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2021". bbc.com. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ↑ Moore, Matthew (11 February 2023). "Strictly's Kai Widdrington poses with rarely-seen teenage sister in stunning photo". Hello!. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ↑ Hallam, Katy (22 May 2022). "Strictly star Kai shares family's incredible connection to major celeb". Birmingham Live.
- ↑ "Britain's Got Talent grand final 2012: how the public voted". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ↑ "VIDEO: Hampshire dancer bids for Britain's Got Talent glory". Daily Echo. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ↑ "Dancer Kai misses out on Britain's Got Talent Glory". Daily Echo. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ↑ McGowan, Sharon (16 December 2016). "RTE's Dancing With The Stars professionals have been revealed". irishmirror. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ↑ "Katherine Lynch exits DWTS as Aoibhin Garrihy steals the show". Independent.ie. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ↑ "DWTS: 'Jake Carter is a very deserving winner'". rte.ie. 26 March 2018.
- ↑ "RTÉ defends putting Demi in 'Dancing With The Stars' in her Leaving Cert year". Independent.ie. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ↑ Power, Ed. "Dancing with the Stars: Judges in the dock as Demi Isaac Oviawe voted off show". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ↑ "Gráinne Gallanagh, Sinéad O'Carroll reveal DWTS pros". rte.ie. 17 December 2019.
- ↑ "Grainne Gallanagh 'over the moon' with Dancing with the Stars success". www.derryjournal.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ↑ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing - Kai Widdrington". BBC.
- ↑ Horton, Tom (26 September 2021). "Strictly Come Dancing: AJ Odudu wows judges in first week of competition". independent. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ↑ "Tayce wins Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special". BBC News. 25 December 2024.
- ↑ Frost, Caroline (25 December 2024). "'Drag Race' Alumna Tayce Szura-Radix Makes History On BBC's 'Christmas Strictly Come Dancing'".
- ↑ Strictly Come Dancing - Series 23: Week 7 Results. Retrieved 10 November 2025 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ↑ Moran, Hannah (26 March 2017). "The Couples You Never Realised Were Dating On Dancing With The Stars". EVOKE.ie. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
- ↑ O'Loughlin, Mikie (28 July 2021). "DWTS' Kai Widdrington and girlfriend Giulia Dotta split up after five years". RSVP Live. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ↑ "Strictly's Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova: From love at first sight to their shock split". hellomagazine.com. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ↑ "5* Weekend Break with the Stars of BBC Strictly Come Dancing". www.donaheys.co.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
External links
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