Strictly Come Dancing fans instantly recognize the professional dancer Kai’s father

Strictly Come Dancing fans saw a famous face on the show over the weekend when Kai Widdrington’s football player father Tommy Widdrington showed up.

The camera turned to Kai’s father clapping among the audience while Kai and his celebrity partner AJ Odudu were interviewed by Claudia Winkleman.

Tommy, 50, began his football career in Southampton in 1990 before moving to Grimsby Town in 1996.

Famous Parent: Strictly Come Dancing fans saw a famous face on the show over the weekend when Kai Widdrington’s football player father Tommy Widdrington appeared

He ended his playing career at Salisbury City before becoming manager of clubs including Southend United and Hemel Hempstead Town.

As a player, he was promoted four times and lifted the Football League Trophy twice.

On Twitter, after Tommy was shown on screen, a fan wrote: ‘I love aj and kai so much that Charlestown was brilliant, they are so hot, plus his dad works for my football team, so we have to stand them for it! ! ‘

Another wrote: ‘Know that Kai’s father looks the same age as him’, while another said: ‘Mr. 66% Tommy Widdrington was on Strictly. Fantastic dance by Kai & AJ ‘.

Proud: The camera panned to Kai’s father clapping among the audience while Kai and his celebrity partner AJ Odudu were interviewed by Claudia Winkleman

Family: Kai (left) pictured with his father Tommy and his brother Theo (right)

Another said: ‘The wait is finally over … Tommy Widdrington in the house at Strictly Come Dancing’.

It happens after AJ broke down in tears as she topped the rankings with her rumored beauty and partner Kai during Saturday’s episode.

The presenter, 33, and her professional dancer, 26, performed Charleston to Don’t Bring Lulu by Dorothy Provine, scoring an incredible 39 after reaching the halfway point of the competition.

Judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood gave flowing feedback with Craig, who was hard to please, just saying, ‘Great!’ after the performance.

One fan wrote: ‘I love aj and kai so much that Charlestown was brilliant, they are so hot, plus his dad works for my football team, so we have to stand up for them !!’

Sporting success: As a player, Tommy was promoted four times and lifted the Football League Trophy twice (pictured in 2006)

An enthusiastic Motsi said in his comments: ‘Oh my god, I feel so proud of you! It was authentic, the acting was great, you came in at a high level, but you have sat at the high level and gone even further! ‘

Shirley added: ‘I do not have a paddle big enough for you, it was amazing!’, While Anton said: ‘It was incredible, I loved it!’

The pair scored three tens and topped the rankings with an incredible 39.

AJ broke down in tears in her chat after the dance and said: ‘This week has been so hard when you fall a lot, it’s so hard you lose confidence in yourself but Kai manages to pull the confidence out of me and me’ I’m so happy.’

Overwhelmed: An emotionally charged bread in tears as she topped the rankings with her rumored beauty and partner Kai

Woah! The presenter, 33, and her professional dancer, 26, performed Charleston to Don’t Bring Lulu by Dorothy Provine, scoring an incredible 39 after reaching the halfway point of the competition

It comes after insiders claimed to The Mail On Sunday that AJ and Kai are an object.

A source on the BBC One show said the couple made no effort to keep secret that they had fallen for each other during intense, grueling training sessions.

The source said: ‘Kai thinks AJ is sexy. They have this lovely romance going on, things have definitely changed in the last week or so, and they are inseparable, not only as dance partners, but also away from it.

‘It’s nice to see a Strictly romance where there is no curse, only two people who have fallen head over heels for each other.

‘Those involved in the show have been following this closely over the weeks and have thought it was always on the cards. It’s great.’

Success: Judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood gave flowing feedback with a hard time pleasing Craig, who simply said, ‘Great!’ after the performance

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