Meet the UK’s Dad Dancer of the Year 2017

Jiving James Hardwell has been named UK Dad Dancer of the Year.

The father of two, 35, fought off competition from dancing dads across the country – winning with the lion’s share of the votes.

The payroll manager from Clevedon, North Somerset was secretly caught on camera by his wife, Hannah, as he impressed their youngest daughter, Ava, seven months, with his moves.

Keen to share his talents with the world, Hannah, 30, uploaded the video to Twitter and entered him into the UK Twirlywoos Dad Dancer of the Year.

James said: “That was just me playing around and having fun with my daughter – she loves to dance.

“I didn’t even know I’d been entered into the competition. I was at work one day and my wife got a tweet and told me that I’d been shortlisted.

“I was like, shortlisted for what? Then I realised the video she’d sent and laughed.”

Following his success, James revealed how he honed his dancing techniques – he used to be in a boyband tribute act.

He said: “I was once in a Five tribute band, so my younger self would probably be very happy about this award.”

But his main inspirations when pulling shapes are his wife, who is a housekeeper at a car dealership, and their two children, Ava, who co-starred in the viral clip, and three-year-old Skye.

James added: “I’m just an ordinary guy, making my kids laugh and my family happy.

“I think when you have children and you dance, you think you still have the moves, but instead you’ve become a dad dancer.

“Now I’m the UK Dad Dancer of 2017 and I couldn’t be happier.”

For his efforts, James received £500 worth of Argos gift vouchers, a Twirlywoos UK Dad Dancer of the Year certificate and a Musical Statues Great BigHoo Twirlywoos toy for his little ones.

Debbie Walker, Twirlywoos Brand Manager, said: “Just like dad dancing, the Twirlywoos are silly, fun and full of surprises and they just love to move to the music.

“The competition was inspired by the father figure Great BigHoo so we are delighted that a father of young children was voted the winner.”