Strictly Come Dancing star’s emotional tribute before revealing ‘hidden meanings’ on stage

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink gave Lauren Oakley a ‘taste of home’

The boat on stage had a hidden meaning (Image: BBC )

Strictly star, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, tonight made an emotional tribute with a dance that gave Strictly partner, Lauren Oakley a “taste of home”.

The dance not only paid tribute to his family but also honoured his late mum and the country where he was born, Suriname. Jimmy explained: “We are dancing Caribbean music, freestyle Soca dancing – my roots basically. I was born in Suriname in South America – a colony of the Netherlands. We were quite poor. In Suriname people still play football in the streets.

“Culture stays with me one hundred million percent. The food is just so amazing – my love goes through my stomach. I’m in a household with four ladies, I want to make them understand where dad is from.”

Jimmy also explained that the music in the performance includes a song that is important to him as it used to be played at family parties.

A relative said: “It’s a really important tribute to my grandparent’s, to Jimmy’s mum.”

She continued: “He was raised by his mum only. He was the youngest of six and I think he always saw how hard his mum worked and I think that gave him the work ethic he has today”.

Jimmy said: “I had a really, really good relationship with my mum. Mum passed away a few years ago.”

Jimmy continued: “Family is the most important thing . I look at them and see I am blessed and lucky. I live for them. I will never forget where I came from. I am very humble about it and I’m very grateful for what I have.”

Jimmy and Lauren took to the stage for an upbeat performance featuring two different Soca songs for their couples’ choice dance.

The dance was met with a standing ovation from the crowd.

Judge Shirley Ballas said: “I loved all the combinations of the different types of rhythms you used.”

She added that the dance got slightly of sync in the middle but then said that Jimmy is one of the “best entertainers on the show”.

Anton Du Beke described the performance as “joyous” and “fun”.

At the end of the dance Jimmy revealed some hidden messages within the stage setup which featured a boat called Natalie, after Jimmy’s wife.

There was also a bar set up with cocktails named after his daughters – Ghislaine, Chloe, Lauren and Miah.

The pair were scored 31 points in total.