Caped Cassidy could be people’s champion

Cassidy Little and Natalie Lowe. Photo courtesy of BBC Pictures.

Cassidy, 33, who set the ballroom alight this week with his passionate pasodoble, will be taking to the famous Strictly Come Dancing ballroom tonight to find out his fate.

The former Royal Marine medic lost his right leg below the knee during a tour of Afghanistan in 2011 in an explosion that killed three of his colleagues and seriously injured another four. He was chosen from 11,000 entries to take part in The People’s Strictly, along with five other real-life heroes.

Performing with dance partner, Natalie Lowe on Wednesday’s episode, the pair received a standing ovation for their captivating performance and impressed all four judges who scored them top marks.

Although Cassidy scored all tens from the Strictly judges, the scores were for guidance only and the public only had 30 minutes after the programme to make their deciding vote.

The winner of the public vote from Wednesday’s show will be crowned The People’s Strictly Champion as part of the live Comic Relief show being broadcast tonight on BBC One, with money raised from viewers’ votes going towards Comic Relief.

Every day life for Cassidy has changed dramatically since appearing on the nations television screens for one of the biggest shows in the county, Strictly Come Dancing.

Cassidy said: “Since being injured, I’ve done some incredible things, and this is another incredible experience, which just pulls me along that pathway.”

Support has been flooding in for Cassidy from across the UK, including from celebrity supporters such as former Strictly finalist, Kimberley Walsh who called Cassidy ‘incredible’.

Cassidy’s local gym, Empire Gymnasium in Market Deeping has also showed its support for Cassidy by hanging a massive banner outside its doors saying ‘Vote Cassidy’.

Matt Weston from Empire Gym said: “Remove the limelight and Cassidy would still be the personality that brings the most light to the room.

“The whole experience has again showed people, that there is always a way! Obstacles, traumas, difficulties will present themselves to us all, but we must look to such shining lights as Cassidy to remind ourselves - we can!”

Make sure you tune in to watch The People’s Strictly tonight to show your support for Cassidy at 9pm on BBC One.

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