Graeme Hall is swapping difficult dogs for demanding dance routines after revealing he had already spent years competing on the dance floor before signing up for Strictly Come Dancing.
But a stroke in 2019 forced the 59-year-old to put his beloved hobby on hold, leaving him convinced his dancing days could be over.
The Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly star is now back in his practice trousers as rehearsals for the BBC competition get under way. Graeme was recently confirmed for the 2026 Strictly line-up, and it turns out he is no stranger to a competitive dance floor.
Previous training remains a recurring Strictly talking point. During the 2025 series, former pro Vincent Simone defended Amber Davies and Lewis Cope over their dance experience and Lewis Cope over their dance experience, arguing that earlier training does not guarantee ballroom success.
Strictly star Graeme Hall reveals previous dance experience
Speaking to The Sun, Graeme revealed his love of dancing began more than a decade ago, when he took part in a local competition.
He said: “I’d done a local competition called Strictly Northampton in 2012 and loved it so much that I carried it on as a hobby. I started taking part in regional events in church halls and community centres but I had to give up because I had a stroke in 2019.”
Doctors later discovered a hole in Graeme’s heart and operated. The frightening health crisis kept him out of action for some time and left him wondering whether he would ever be able to dance again.
He continued: “I was out of action for quite a while and I thought it had brought an end to my dancing. I’m fine now but I had to put my dance bag away — now I’ve got it out of the loft and there’s all my kit and practice trousers so I will be using those soon.
“But if you’d told me in 2019 that I was going to be taking part in the show I would have dismissed you as a fantasist.”
Graeme also reckons his famous nickname, The Dogfather, could make its way into a Strictly routine. He joked that producers might even put him in a dog costume.
Strictly signing ‘hasn’t really sunk in’
Graeme first met with the Strictly team in February, when he also danced for them, but then faced a long wait for news.
As producers began gradually revealing the celebrity contestants, Graeme started to think he had missed his chance. It was only when his agent called that he discovered he had secured a place on the show.
Graeme admitted that “it hasn’t really sunk in”.
The celebrities will find out who their professional partners are during the live launch show, The Sun reported. They have already met the professionals and taken part in chemistry sessions.
And Graeme said he would be happy with any of the professional dancers. For him, the goal is simple: stay in the competition for as long as possible and enjoy an opportunity that few people get.
Dog bite almost left Graeme with permanent damage
Long before his Strictly adventure, Graeme spent around two decades working in management at Weetabix. His move from the cereal giant into professional dog training eventually set him on the path to his television career.
Working with challenging dogs has not been without its dangers, either. In the same interview, Graeme recalled an encounter with a German Shepherd that attacked his left hand.
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Graeme said the bite narrowly missed a tendon and nerve, and he feared he could lose the full use of his hand.
The incident changed the way he approaches safety around aggressive dogs. He now uses a muzzle when necessary, although he admitted he still receives smaller bites from time to time.
Now, though, Graeme has a very different challenge on his hands. Difficult dogs have been replaced by demanding choreography, and while he knows Strictly will not be easy, he is determined to make the most of his return to the dance floor and enjoy every minute.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on September 19.
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