Former Strictly favourite Hamza Yassin wants to find love – and shares his struggles with racism

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Hamza Yassin jokingly says he feels like an older man trapped in a 35-year-old’s body. He’s chosen a quiet life in a remote part of Britain, away from the usual glamour, and spends his time with friends who are closer in age to his parents. His ideal Saturday night? Hosting a movie night for this close-knit group he considers family.

I avoid drinking, smoking, and partying. When I was at university, I never understood why people would go out and get so drunk that they’d miss classes the next day. We actually figured out that each lecture cost around £300, so it didn’t make sense to waste that money recovering from a hangover.

He doesn’t criticize those who drink alcohol, but expresses genuine confusion about why anyone would choose it over experiencing nature. He simply wonders, “Why waste your time? Just go outside and enjoy the countryside.”

I’ve always admired how he lives his life – it really seems to suit him. Beyond his amazing time on ‘Strictly’ – he actually *won* in 2022, which was fantastic to watch! – he’s happiest out in the countryside, and that’s where I’m talking to him now. He’s relaxing under a Scots pine, wearing a cool green hat, and leaning on a walking stick he carved himself fifteen years ago when he used to help a ghillie. It’s a really down-to-earth, authentic vibe.

His story—really, his entire life since coming to the UK—is a powerful example of how far he’s come. He arrived from Sudan at age eight, knowing very little English—just a few words like “please,” “thank you,” “pizza,” and “chips.” He then faced the difficulties of being diagnosed with severe dyslexia, and even spent nine months sleeping in a car while learning the skills he now uses at the RSPB Arne Nature Reserve in Dorset on this warm summer evening.

Hamza is hosting a nighttime segment about the mysterious nightjar for a UK wildlife series called Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles, but he emphasizes that the real star is nature itself. He says, ‘I’m not a celebrity; I’m just someone who deeply loves the natural world – it’s my second greatest love after my mother.’

The connection between a son and his mother is strong. Her drive and determination were key to the opportunities he has today. As a gynaecologist in Sudan, she received an invitation to work for the National Health Service in the UK. She insisted her husband, also a doctor, accompany her, and the NHS happily agreed. They traveled to the UK to confirm the job offers were suitable, and a year later, arranged for the whole family to move.

The team moved around quite a bit, working in Newcastle, Whitehaven, and Carlisle before finally settling in Northampton, where they’re still based today. This meant our family changed schools every six to twelve months.

It was already challenging for a child to adjust, but this was made even harder by his limited English and an undiagnosed learning difficulty with reading – dyslexia. He quickly began speaking in complete sentences that his teachers could easily understand. However, his reading skills didn’t develop as quickly as his speaking ability, which unfortunately led to some teasing and bullying. He doesn’t believe this had a long-term effect, saying, “Kids will be kids.” He fondly remembers his schooling and feels very thankful for the education he received.

Hamza didn’t realize he was dyslexic until his parents sent him to Wellingborough School and a teacher, Mrs. Strange, pointed it out. He recalls being very upset, initially thinking dyslexia meant he would become paralyzed and need a wheelchair. Mrs. Strange gently explained that dyslexia simply meant he found reading and writing difficult, not that he would be physically disabled.

Receiving a diagnosis felt freeing. With the right support, he was able to successfully complete exams that would have been incredibly challenging otherwise. He explained, “I had someone read the questions to me and another person write down my spoken answers during the exams. It was amazing that a teacher recognized I wasn’t unintelligent, and she truly understood that dyslexia can be a strength.”

He often talks about his abilities, but everyday tasks can still be surprisingly difficult for him. For example, he once got lost trying to navigate the London Underground. He was told to take a specific line and change at Paddington, but he struggled to identify the correct station on the map, admitting he couldn’t read it and needed assistance.

He explains that the further north you travel, the more welcoming people become, and that’s likely why he chose to live in a remote village on the Ardnamurchan peninsula – the westernmost part of mainland Britain. He recalls spotting a minke whale, a golden eagle, and a pine marten there when he was twenty years old, and immediately knowing it was where he wanted to settle down.

I pretended to my parents that I was living in a charming little cottage on Scotland’s west coast, but the truth was I spent nine months living in my car. To avoid getting caught, I’d park near the ferry terminal and carefully position my car to block a ‘No Overnight Parking’ sign each night. Then, I’d wake up early, before the first ferry at 8am, and move it.

I lived a simple life, staying near the campsite. When I wasn’t hiking and filming, I worked various jobs to get by. I did everything from gardening and house cleaning to chopping wood and moving furniture – whatever it took to stay in the area.

Did the cold weather ever make him miss his home in Sudan? His answer reveals a lot about how he thinks. He said, “No, because I figured the cold would encourage the barn owls to hunt – I always looked for the good in every situation.”

I was really developing my photography skills around this time, but I was also picking up all sorts of new abilities. I took a job as a ghillie on a shooting estate, which involved helping to manage the deer population. Honestly, I didn’t have a problem with the culling, because deer numbers *do* need to be controlled – too many and the landscape gets completely stripped bare. It was a bit strange, because I’m not a fan of shooting in general, I’d much rather see wildlife thriving. I ended up doing a lot of the skinning and some basic butchery, but really, all of this was just a stepping stone. My main goal was always to become a cameraman.

That brings us back to RSPB Arne. As we’re talking, he’s constantly looking at and identifying birds overhead, often by their Latin names. It’s remarkable how he’s learned these names, especially considering he still struggles with reading.

I learned the specific names for things by listening to experienced staff at RSPB reserves. It’s like a shared language among those who work there. I guess that makes me a bit of a geek, but honestly, that’s always been my goal!

He’s a tech enthusiast who also happens to be Black and sports long dreadlocks – he’s had them for 23 years, carefully washing them twice a week and letting them air dry, which can take up to five hours. He says growing them was initially a way to rebel against his mother, who used to give him frequent, very short haircuts. Now, he considers his dreadlocks a natural part of himself and barely even notices them.

When asked if he’s experienced racism, he immediately said, “Absolutely!” He remembers being pulled over by the police while driving his mother’s car in Northampton, and he handled the situation calmly.

He believes the police likely stopped him because of his appearance – a young man with dreadlocks who they probably assumed used drugs. He recalls telling them, “If you need to know who owns the car, call my mother.” He made sure to be very polite, responding with “Yes sir” and “No sir” throughout the interaction.

Sometimes, the racism I experience is more understated. I’ve noticed people often look surprised to see me entering a nature reserve, almost as if they assume I don’t belong. I don’t feel the need to make a big deal out of it; I prefer to simply be myself and lead by example.

People who claim they ‘don’t see color’ aren’t being honest. We all notice differences, and my skin color is one of them. I embrace it, and it actually gives me strength. I want to show everyone, no matter their background, that they can pursue their passions and challenge expectations. While I’ve definitely experienced racism, it hasn’t held me back. It was frustrating and upsetting, but I refuse to let it define me. I could dwell on the negativity, or I can focus on proving those prejudiced views wrong – and I choose the latter.

Racism exists and will likely continue to be a problem. It’s concerning to think about young children experiencing it. However, my mixed-race nieces and nephews will hopefully see that if someone like ‘Uncle Hamza’ can overcome prejudice, they can too.

As night falls, Yassin is demonstrating his expertise by filming newly arrived migrant nightjars with a five-person crew. They’re capturing footage of the birds feeding on insects in flight. Yassin is being filmed with two cameras while he monitors a third, which can record in the dark. The rest of the team relies on his descriptions of the birds’ graceful movements and unique calls, which break the quiet of the heathland.

You know, watching Yassin’s work, it’s clear he really needs and appreciates his alone time. It’s how he recharges. He’s already planning his next project – filming ants, which he thinks are way more interesting than people! Then he’s off to Scotland to be with the people he considers his second family, and I totally get that need for a strong support system.

Honestly, being part of this close-knit community has been amazing. It’s like they’ve really helped me gain independence, but with a safety net. Even something simple like writing an email – they’d always be willing to give it a quick check for me. I feel genuinely looked after. That’s just how it is in a small place – you *have* to lean on each other. It’s so different from city life where people barely know the folks next door. I can walk through our village and tell you everyone’s name, their kids’ names, even what they’ve been dealing with health-wise – I used to deliver medicine during Covid, so I really got to know everyone.

Despite staying busy with tasks like chopping wood, gardening, and helping neighbors with heavy lifting for the village’s 150 residents, he wonders if these activities are filling a deeper void. He admits he’s been happily independent since leaving university and enjoys his own company, but still hopes to find a partner. He’s open to anyone – regardless of appearance – who is simply enthusiastic about life.

He shares his happiness with genuine excitement and a sense of childlike amazement. In the first episode, he rediscovers the beauty of nature through the eyes of his young nieces, aged eight and ten, while watching badgers leave their home. Their delight as the badgers play is truly heartwarming and will likely bring a tear to your eye – it’s one of the most uplifting moments on television this year.

Similar to how *The Blue Planet* offered comfort after the 9/11 attacks, this series appears at a welcome time. Each episode, organized by season, is a collection of calming and thoughtful short films, often moving at a deliberate pace. One captivating segment features only the sounds of the Dawn Chorus, reminding us of the abundance of wildlife in both rural and urban areas – much of which goes unnoticed, or is lovingly observed by local wildlife fans (keep an eye out for Nigel, who’s particularly fond of adders!).

Yassin hopes to inspire others to protect the environment. He believes that seeing someone passionate about nature might encourage people to think about how they can care for their own communities and local surroundings. That’s what he’s working towards.

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2025-10-07 03:32