Strictly Come Dancing's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink Admits Weekly Training Frustrations

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, a contestant on the 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing paired with professional dancer Lauren Oakley, has openly shared his struggles with frustration and anger during rehearsals due to a recurring mistake. Despite performing well, including scoring 29 points for their Couples Choice routine and preparing for Icons Week with a dance to Prince's "Purple Rain," Hasselbaink admits he tends to overcomplicate choreography after initial attempts, which affects his confidence. He attributes this challenge to dancing being an unnatural and new discipline for him, compounded by his perfectionist tendencies. His partner Lauren Oakley has expressed strong confidence in his abilities but notes that his self-belief and self-confidence need strengthening to overcome mental blocks that cause him to repeat errors. Both acknowledge that Hasselbaink's internalization of mistakes leads to a cycle of frustration, and they are working on helping him break free from this pattern to improve his performances. This candid reflection highlights the mental challenges of learning new skills under pressure, even for accomplished performers.