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BBC Strictly Come Dancing star reveals 'hard' health issue he faced on show
BBC Strictly Come Dancing star reveals 'hard' health issue he faced on show
Ore Oduba won the famous Glitterball Trophy in 2016 when he partnered with Joanna Clifton, but he was reportedly battling a health issue while starring on Strictly Come Dancing
Ore Oduba revealed he was battling a health problem while on Strictly Come Dancing
(Image: ITV)
BBC star Ore Oduba has revealed he was battling a 'hard' health problem while on Strictly Come Dancing. The former Newsround star took part on the show alongside professional dancer Joanne Clifton.
Ore and Joanne went on to lift the famous Glitterball Trophy, finishing ahead of pop star Louise Redknapp and partner Kevin Clifton and Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac and professional Oti Mabuse. But Ore says he made desperate attempts to conceal a health issue while on the show, reports the Daily Mail.
The star reportedly masked the fact that he was balding. Male-pattern baldness is said to affect around 6.5 million men living in the United Kingdom.
For some men, the process can begin while they are in their teens, with others not experiencing hair loss until later in life. Ore, 39, is said to have treated himself with tablets and hair loss spray at the time.
According to the Mail, he said: 'Hiding my hair loss during Strictly was hard but absolutely necessary. I'd visit my trusted barber every Friday so my hairline was tight and tidy.'
Ore Oduba lifted the Strictly trophy in 2016
(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
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The NHS says that while many people do use hair-loss tablets such as finasteride they can have side-effects. It says some men who take them could struggle with ejaculation or suffer impotence from taking the tablets.
There can however be more serious side effects, however the NHS says only one in 1,000 people experience the more severe reactions. These include low mood and lumps in the chest area, which could be a sign of cancer.
Those who do experience the side effects are told to contact their GP or ring 111 immediately. Ore and Joanne were crowned winners in a shock result in 2016 after scoring two perfect dances in the Strictly final.
After lifting the trophy, he paid tribute to his professional partner. Ore said: 'I am so speechless. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for everything you've given me.
'You are the most incredible person. This has been the most incredible experience of my life.
'I've learnt to dance. I've made a best friend. I've been on the show that I've loved for the past 12 years.'
Ore Oduba rose to fame as a BBC presenter
(Image: BBC)
Joanne, who finished ahead of her brother Kevin, added: 'Thank you. I can't believe it. Thank you for working so hard. You've become a dancer.'
After being crowned Strictly champion, Joanne left the show, returning as an expert presenter on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two in 2019. She has since appeared in stage shows including Shrek the Musical and The Addams Family.
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Ore started his career on Sportsround before moving onto Newsroom. He has subsequently appeared on the likes of This Morning and BBC Breakfast.
Away from screens Ore has appeared in musicals such as Grease, Curtains the Musical, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Meanwhile Strictly will return next month with stars such as former Love Islander Dani Dyer, ex-Premier League star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and Gladiator Nitro set to take part.
