Racer Billy Monger's emotional reason for signing up for BBC Strictly Christmas special
Share:
Double amputee Billy Monger says he signed up for Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special as a thank-you to the surgeon who performed his amputations after his horror smash in 2017. The racing driver, 25, said he had been inspired to say yes to dancing on his prosthetic limbs because of Tom Rowlands, and his wife Courtney, who are fans of the show and have become close friends. “Tom is one of many surgeons who looked after me when I needed it most,” Billy explained. “After my accident, we stayed in touch and they are part of my close network of people.
“His wife, Courtney, who will be coming to the show, is such a big Strictly fan. I’ve just done Iron Man in Hawaii and she travelled out to watch me. When I said I might be doing Strictly, she said, ‘You have to do it. I’ve come to Hawaii, so you need to do it’. She’s the person who made me think, ‘I’ve got to do this’.”.
Billy was a rising star in the world of motor racing until the accident which nearly killed him. In April 2017 Billy, then just 17, was involved in a high-speed crash at Donington Park, Derby during the Formula 4 British Championship. After being cut from the wreckage, he was airlifted to hospital in Nottingham where doctors battled to save his life.
At the time Steven Hunter, head of Billy’s team JHR Developments, said witnessing the young driver and his injuries had been a “heart-wrenching”experience. But, after having surgery to remove his left leg above the knee and his right leg below the knee, Billy was determined to recover and get on with his life. Just seven months later, he was back racing, driving a modified car to cater for his disabilities. He has since explained: “I lost my legs but not my daredevil spirit.”.
