The glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing returned to BBC screens on Saturday, September 27, with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman ushering in a dazzling new cast for the first live show of the season. The iconic ballroom was alive with energy, but for one star, the night nearly unraveled before it even began. England rugby legend Chris Robshaw, partnered with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova, faced a heart-stopping wardrobe malfunction just moments before taking the stage.
The duo kicked off the night with a fiery Samba to EMF’s 1990s anthem Unbelievable. Their high-energy performance earned them 14 points, placing them near the bottom of the leaderboard, just above Ross King and Jowita Przystal. But it wasn’t just the judges’ scores that had Chris sweating. During Thursday’s episode of Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two, hosted by Janette Manrara, Chris spilled the tea on a backstage crisis that nearly derailed his debut.
Janette, ever the inquisitive host, flashed a backstage photo of Chris on screen and teased, “Your Saturday nights are a far cry from the rugby pitch now! What’s going on here?” With a sheepish grin, Chris recounted the chaotic moment: “This was just minutes before we went live. It’s not all rock and roll and glamorous like people think. My shirt started riding up, threatening to ruin the whole look. Thank goodness for costume designer Vicky Gill—she’s a genius! They had to sew the shirt under the crotch to keep everything in place.”
Janette chimed in, laughing, “Vicky knows how to keep things tidy and make sure nothing pops out! She’s the best in the business, and we love her for it.”
The wardrobe save ensured Chris and Nadiya could focus on their performance, but the rugby star’s Strictly journey is just getting started. This weekend, the pair will trade the sultry Samba for the elegance of a Viennese Waltz, set to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ Die With a Smile. Reflecting on the transition, Chris admitted the challenge of adapting his rugby-honed physique to the finesse of ballroom dancing. “The judges hinted that my style might suit ballroom better,” he said with a chuckle. “I think they’re politely saying I’ve got no rhythm and I’m stiff as a board!”
Nadiya, ever the supportive partner, praised Chris’s progress: “Rugby is all about tackling and throwing—Chris is used to that raw power. Now, I need him to glide across the floor with elegance and a long neck. It’s not natural for him, but he’s doing an incredible job. We learned the Viennese Waltz steps in just four days, and the routine is coming together beautifully. I’m so proud of how he’s tackled this challenge.”
As Chris and Nadiya polish their waltz, fans are eager to see if they can climb the leaderboard and avoid another costume catastrophe. With the stakes high and the ballroom calling, one thing’s certain: Chris Robshaw is proving he’s got the grit to take on Strictly—wardrobe malfunctions and all!