Matt Goss heaps praise on Strictly Come Dancing for helping with rare condition: ‘Every week I’m getting stronger’-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Matt has Poland syndrome (Picture: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing star Matt Goss, who has a rare muscle condition, has opened up about how the BBC’s juggernaut show is helping improve his strength and body confidence.

The Bros frontman is paired up with Nadiya Bychkova on dancing competition series, vying to impress judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.

While the pair have landed at the bottom end of the leaderboard twice, and narrowly avoided being eliminated in the second week, the performer said the long-running show has done wonders for his self-esteem.

The 54-year-old was born with Poland syndrome, a ‘very rare’ condition that is characterised by webbing of the fingers and of underdevelopment of chest muscle, according to the NHS.

Matt explained he has ‘one pectoral muscle on the right side instead of two. The lower one is missing but the upper one is fine and strong.’

During his career as a frontman, Matt said that he used to ‘pose covering that side of my chest’ but now has plans to reshoot campaigns following Strictly Come Dancing.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Matt said: ‘My posture has improved since being on Strictly.

Matt said Strictly had improved his posture (Picture: PA)

‘I want to say to the judges, you’ve made me want to improve this and be proud of my posture. I want to thank them. This is a journey for me – every week I am getting stronger.’

The performer further praised the costume team at Strictly, saying they had been ‘kind and discreet’ when it came to outfit fittings.

Matt said he really enjoyed costume fittings (Picture: PA)

He said: ‘It has been one of my favourite things about the Strictly experience. The costume team were relative strangers at the beginning but from the start they’ve always been very kind and discreet – it has really touched me.

Matt continued: ‘If I get a jacket made it will pull on the right side more. I have it tight on my right so it counterbalances my left side. Slim tailoring is good for me and my fashion is determined by my chest shape.’

Matt and Nadiya are attempting to win the Glitterball Trophy (Credits: PA)

The singer said he was keen to raise awareness of Poland syndrome to show children with the condition that he’s not ‘disadvantaged.’

Matt added: ‘I’m not disadvantaged and I want kids to know that. I am going to look at creating some kind of charity to build confidence, to show kids with the syndrome they can achieve everything in life.’

Despite having a 40-year strong career in performing, Matt previously admitted he was quite a ‘shy person off stage.’

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‘Look, I’m quite a shy person off stage, I’m certainly quite reserved, but when I’m on stage I do feel very at peace and it’s the happiest place for me in my life when I’m on stage,’ he told Pat Sharp on Greatest Hits Radio.

After living in the United States, Goss’s addition to the Strictly cast came as he moved back to the United Kingdom after years away.

He previously said he missed the people, going for a pint of Guinness and a ‘proper’ bacon sandwich.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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