The former professional rugby player and his dance partner hit a brick-wall when they came up against Blue pop star Simon Webbe and his partner Kristina Rihanoff in a dance-off on Sunday’s results show.
Evans and Lukosiute performed their cha-cha to Jessie J’s ‘It’s My Party’, which scored 27 on Saturday’s show and placed the couple ninth on the leader board of 12 couples, while their opponents reprised their Viennese Waltz to ‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen, which received 28 points on Saturday and earned them eighth place.
The judges were split on their decision. Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell chose to save Evans and Lukosiute, while Bruno Tonioli voted to keep Webbe and Rihanoff, leaving head judge Len Goodman to cast the deciding vote that kept Webbe and Rihanoff in the competition. The Harare-born Evans expressed delight at having taken part in the show and praised his partner.
“This experience exceeded all my expectations. It is one of the best experiences of my life,” he said.
“From the judges to the other contestants to the backroom staff, everyone does such a brilliant job and helps you feel confident going into every show.”
Evans was born in Harare in 1985, but moved to the UK with his family while very young and was later educated at Wellington College in England.
He started playing rugby at school and after he graduated, he played professionally for the London Wasps between 2004 and 2006, when he moved to the Glasgow Warriors, where he still holds the record for the most tries scored.
He also played rugby for England at under-16, under-18 and under-21 levels, but selected to play for Scotland at a higher level.
When Strictly Come Dancing launched earlier this month, Evans became the second Zimbabwean in as many years to contest the show, after Natalie Gumede ended fourth in the same show last year.
Post published in: Arts