Former Strictly winner admits 'I wouldn't be here today' without show triumph
Tom Chambers is probably best known for his roles in Holby City and Waterloo Road, but it was in 2008 that he had an unexpected career triumph after being crowned winner of Strictly
The former Strictly winner said he 'wouldn't be here today' without the dancing success
(Image: BBC)
Former Strictly Come Dancing winner Tom Chambers said "it's why I'm still here" as he looked back to his triumph on the show over 15 years ago.
After getting an appetite for acting during his school days, it wasn't until he was aged 29 that Tom got his first big break on the small screen. It was announced in 2006 that he was going to be the newest member of the once-popular Holby City, which ran for 23 years.
After staking his claim as one of the most important stars on the show, he made the somewhat unconventional move to swap acting for dancing after agreeing to participate in the 2008 series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Then in its sixth series, Strictly Come Dancing was well on its way to becoming one of the country's most adored shows, like it is today.
Tom was crowned the winner alongside Camilla Dallerup in 2008
(Image: PA)
Despite the move to Strictly coming at the same time he was starring in Holby City, he agreed that it didn't do his career any harm, as he told Candis magazine: "Absolutely. It's why I'm still here. It really put me on the map."
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But, acknowledging that competing on the show was one of the most terrifying experiences of his life, he added: "It gave me 15 minutes of extreme fame. My father, Stuart, who is a chartered accountant put the glitterball in the window of his business in Matlock."
After seeing off competition from the likes of former GMTV presenter Andrew Castle, Christine Bleakley (now Lampard), Tom and his dance partner, Camilla Dallerup, made it all the way to the final beating Rachel Stevens, Vincent Simone, Lisa Snowdon and Brendan Cole to walk away with the coveted Glitterball trophy.
They beat Lisa Snowdon in the final
(Image: PA)
Since his triumph on the show all those years ago, he returned to the world of acting with roles in Waterloo Road, as well as brief stints in Casualty, Emmerdale and Midsomer Murders.
But he is now set to see his acting career hit the stage as he is due play the role of the famous fictional detective, Inspector Morse in House of Ghosts.
Many will remember him playing Sam Strachan in Holby City
(Image: Jed Cullen/)
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It is set to run from the end of this month in Birmingham before the tour concludes in Salford next April.
As Tom recently reflected on his time in Strictly, fans of the show are gearing up for yet another series of the beloved dancing show in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, their appetites have been whet in recent days with the announcement of this year's contestants, with names including; Vicky Pattinson, Dani Dyer, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Thomas Skinner.
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