Strictly: Karim Zeroual’s journey from the mean streets to the ballroom
Karim Zeroual talks about Strictly, being on the short side, and his mum’s winning chicken curries…
If you weren’t familiar with CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual before, you will be by now! The 25-yearold pocket rocket is dazzling audiences on Strictly Come Dancing with his twinkle toes, sense of fun... and astounding flexibility.
He’s certainly come a long way. After a difficult upbringing in an area where violence was rife and aspirations low, he landed a role as a CBBC presenter at 16, and has never looked back. Here, Karim, currently a favourite to win, talks to best at the National Lottery Awards about his Strictly
journey, his relationship with pro partner Amy Dowden, 28, and how he hopes his career will inspire his nephews to great things…
You’re incredible on Strictly! How has the journey been?
Amazing. And you just never know what’s going to happen. I’ve forgotten a routine before – literally seconds before – I went on. If you do well, you don’t have long to celebrate, as you’re straight onto the next dance! You can never be complacent. Dev Griffin got four 9s, and was eliminated the next week! I go out and dance every Saturday as if it’s my last dance. I’m putting my heart and soul into it out there.
Training must be gruelling. What helps get you through?
My lovely mum has been feeding me up, which helps. She loves to make me a homemade chicken curry, the same that I used to have when I was younger. It’s been years since I’ve had her cooked food. It’s good for me, but bad for Amy in the rehearsal room, because I have bad curry breath!
How do you like to unwind when you’re not dancing?
I love a bit of cooking and I have always loved music. I have got rhythm and I grew up in a very musical household. I used to DJ and so I think that musicality helps me a lot in my dancing. Amy says I have a natural rhythm, which is not teachable – she says you either “have it or you don’t”!
Are you worried about the Strictly curse?
Oh no – there’s nothing going on between Amy and me, I have a girlfriend. But Amy and I are really good mates – a bit too good! We tease each other constantly, and it goes a bit far, and she nags me a bit – but look, it is all out of love. We’re genuinely good friends. We go for dinner and hang out, but Amy does have to rein me in sometimes. I’m very excitable.
Tell us about your upcoming CBBC documentary series, A Week to Beat the World
I take three British children to countries like Guatemala,
Brazil and Japan to play the national sports and see if we can beat the locals at their own game. And I have to do a lot of mad things! I’ve eaten chicken heads and feet, fish eyes, got waxed in Brazil and ran out of the sea in a pair of Speedos, trying to look attractive. I also played hockey with a fireball, with the Mayan people. It’s the first time on TV that I’ve been speechless. Apart from Strictly, I’ve never been more scared.
You grew up in a rough neighbourhood in west London, didn’t you?
Yes, there was a lot of knife crime – but you can get that anywhere. Sometimes, growing up where I did, I didn’t think I’d ever make it in TV. So, for my nephews to see their uncle doing this gives them hope, and is why I do what I do. I was lucky, in that I was always really self-assured. But I’m a small boy and mixed race [Karim has British and Moroccan roots] so it wasn’t easy. I believe good things come in small packages, but I’m still the smallest guy when I walk in the room, and that can be hard. Yeah, I have been through bad things growing up – not stuff that I want to speak about. But I’ve channelled it, and it’s made me stronger. Instead of hitting the selfdestruct button, I’ve used it for success and positivity.
You have a strong work ethic – where does that come from?
My mum, I think! We’re a very small family, we stick together and work hard. When I was young, I knew what I wanted to do. I went to Sylvia Young Theatre School and was on the drama course and I just knew that I wanted to be an actor. It’s funny, when you’re young, you want to be a movie star. Then you get older and you’re like, ‘Actually, I need to make a living out of this’! But you never know, I could still find myself in Hollywood one day… I could be the next Dustin Hoffman!
The National Lottery Awards: Celebrating 25 Years is on Tues, 19 Nov at 11.30pm on BBC One. See lotterygoodcauses. org.uk