Key Highlights
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink reveals his biggest mistake on Strictly Come Dancing every week.
- The footballer struggles with overthinking and overcomplicating dance steps, leading to frustration and anger.
- His partner Lauren Oakley reassures him that he is making progress but needs to work on self-confidence.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Struggle on Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, has opened up about a significant challenge he faces during his weekly performances. In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, Hasselbaink revealed that despite mastering the majority of dance steps, he often overcomplicates them, leading to frustration and anger.
The footballer, who is paired with Lauren Oakley on the show, admitted that after successfully executing a step once or twice, his perfectionist nature takes over. Hasselbaink explained, “The first hit, I do it, and then after the third time trying, I complicate things, and I end up thinking too much about it and overcomplicating it, and then getting frustrated with myself and getting angry.” This process is a recurring issue that Hasselbaink struggles to overcome.
Perfectionism and Rehearsal Challenges
Hasselbaink further elaborated on how his perfectionist nature makes learning new dance routines particularly difficult. He stated, “I think it’s just because it’s not natural, it’s not a day-to-day thing, it’s a new discipline. And you can just see my face changing and my demeanour shifting. I just get really upset with myself.” The pundit acknowledged that this struggle is part of the learning process but expressed his determination to overcome it.
Partner’s Support
Luckily, Hasselbaink has Lauren Oakley by his side, who provides reassurance and support. Lauren noted, “He goes really internal, so he’s pretty spot on there. He’s so able, I just think it’s the self-belief and the self-confidence that we need to crack because it will go wrong maybe once, and then he gets it into his head, and he goes wrong another three times.” Lauren emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence and moving past minor mistakes during rehearsals.
Despite these challenges, Hasselbaink has been making steady progress on the show.
The pair recently secured an impressive score of 29 points out of 30 with their Couples Choice routine, placing them in the middle of the leaderboard. This performance is a testament to both his skills and Lauren’s support.
Future Prospects
The upcoming Icons week on Strictly Come Dancing promises more exciting performances as Hasselbaink and Oakley prepare to dance to Prince’s “Purple Rain.” As Hasselbaink continues to work through his perfectionist tendencies, fans can look forward to seeing him evolve both in terms of his dancing skills and his ability to handle the pressures of a competitive show.
Meanwhile, the show itself faces new dynamics following the exits of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. However, Hasselbaink’s journey continues on Strictly Come Dancing, where he remains dedicated to refining his performance each week.
