Strictly's Ore Oduba on future of show and surviving lockdown with 'saviour' son Roman
EXCLUSIVE: The Strictly Come Dancing winner opened up about how two-year-old son Roman has been his "saviour" during lockdown and what he's doing to help other parents
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Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba says son Roman has been his "saviour" during lockdown.
The 34-year-old, who shares little Roman, two, with wife Portia, says he wouldn't have got through the last few months if it wasn't for his little boy giving him a reason to get up every day.
Ore made the adorable confession about his son during an exclusive chat with Mirror Online, as he discussed how he's helping other parents by joining the WaterWipes Early Days Club panel alongside Lucy Mecklenburgh.
Ore, who has been presenting on This Morning recently, got real as he talked about the highs and lows the coronavirus lockdown has brought him.
He told us: "It's had its moments really, it's had so many ups and downs and I think that's probably the same for a lot of people the past four months.
"I've gone through phases, after the initial shock it was like 'this is it, we are just going to be here, the three of us and nobody else for the foreseeable future'.
"Quite quickly me and my son were spending some special time with each other, more so than we ever have with me working away, so that was really nice."
He added: "We were fortunate, me and my wife, we always wanted to make sure that we had each other's backs and we were trying really hard to just survive it, I think that was the thing, it was a survival exercise.
"Some days are easier than others, but our little boy - although he was the source of most of the arguments - he was the guy who got us through.
"He's the one that makes you get up in the morning and remember to eat and he was the entertainment.
"He's two and a half and he's done lots of growing up in lockdown, it's been amazing to see. We even started chalking his growth on the wall in the kitchen and it's almost an inch between April and now.
"He's been our saviour and guardian angel."
Ore is set to take part in a live panel discussion for WaterWipes Early Days Club on July 29.
And he said it's super important for new and expectant parents to know that they're not in it alone.
He said: "This is the second Early Days Club that WaterWipes have done, and this one is focusing on parenting in lockdown.
"What really kind of struck with me is their mantra is about honesty and open discussion and making sure that people know parenting isn't airbrushed, it's nowhere near a perfect picture, especially during lockdown and it resonated with me so much.
"For a long time, I've known that to my wife and I, communication has been key to getting through anything, if you're feeling down. if you're feeling up, whatever emotions you're going through especially when it comes to looking after our little boy, we have to have those conversations.
"Sometimes it's difficult and uncomfortable and you'd really rather not have those conversations but by tackling them head on and knowing that between the two of us you've been willing to listen and open to understanding it really takes a lot of that psychological pressure you put yourself under off.
"And that's the idea that they've got with the Early Days Club, it's an open forum and a chance for parents, expecting parents or new parents, it's a chance for them to talk with others.
"There's a panel that I'm part of with Lucy Mecklenburgh and a wonderful healthcare professional, Dr Stephanie Ooi and a wellness expert too, Caroline Foran.
"And we just want to encourage that open discussion about the stuff that we've struggled with, stuff that we've been successful with, things that have got us through and been hard and encourage parents to feel like they can share those moments because we're all in the same boat, especially during lockdown.
"It's just really good to have that community and feel like you aren't alone.
"It's so essential to know that you aren't the only one trying to muddle through it.
"So we've laid on this platform for other people to be able to get involved with and hopefully they'll find it helpful."
Ore lifted the Glitterball trophy on Strictly back in 2016, alongside professional Joanne Clifton.
There's been debate over whether or not the show can go ahead this year with social-distancing rules in place, but Ore is hopeful that it will.
He said: "I think we need it. Obviously we know there's a whole bunch of cultural things and opportunities to escape that are being dried up because of the pandemic and social-distancing and things.
"I know that if there's any chance for the BBC to put Strictly on that they'll take it. It's a lifeline for some people, it's an incredible show and we need sparkle and sequins more than ever right now.
"My bigger concern, talking of entertainment and those options of escape, is about the shows on stage.
"All of those professionals have had shows and tours cancelled over the summer and this is people's livelihoods and it's created a huge black hole in some of the stuff that people love and made our entertainment landcape."
Ore had just made his West End debut in Curtains in January alongside Jason Manford.
He said: "I was looking forward to other theatre projects in the future, but yeah there's a big pause with no timeline as to when that's going to get lifted so it's quite scary to think what the future of theatre in this country is.
"We're a resilient bunch in the theatre business, they've been through a lot, theatre has always been on a the brink in some shape or form, we're just all remaining hopeful we'll get back on stage."
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