Wildlife presenter and Strictly Come Dancing winner Hamza Yassin has spoken of his passion for the natural world as he prepares to bring his tour to the North East and North Yorkshire.
He will appear at the Grand Opera House in York on Tuesday, May 12, the Royal Hall in Harrogate on Sunday May 17 and at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre on May 29 as part of his debut UK tour Hamza Yassin – My Life Behind The Lens.
The tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at his work capturing the wonders of nature on camera.
Mr Yassin said: "I love what I do. I’m one of the luckiest me never.
"I get to do what I love most; film wildlife and have an incredible time doing it."
The tour takes audiences on a journey through his wildlife adventures, from childhood inspiration to his current role behind the camera, and explores the stories, technology and challenges that shape his work.
It also serves as an opportunity to say thank you to the audiences who have supported him throughout his career.
Mr Yassin said: "What has been brilliant so far with my own tour is realising this is a chance for me to say ‘thank you’ to people who have supported me, through Strictly and everything I’ve done since.
"A lot of the people coming to the tour are people who were converted to nature loving people when I did Strictly, but I hope they are bringing other people with them who are yet to be converted, and they become fans through the show.
"Seeing people face to face like this is awesome.
"Touring so far is good, especially being able to spread the love of Mother Nature.
"It’s like my version of a pilgrimage and spreading the word."
Mr Yassin is best known for presenting shows including Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles, Hamza’s Strictly Birds of Prey, Countryfile, and Animal Park.
He also appears as Ranger Hamza on the popular CBeebies series Let’s Go For A Walk and Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest.
Born in Sudan and raised in the UK from the age of eight, Mr Yassin said his love for nature was a universal childhood experience—one he was lucky enough never to lose.
He said: "I am a child at heart and have just managed to keep that feeling.
"I had no more passion about nature and animals than any other child.
"But I never had it taken out of me.
"Kids should be given the opportunity to be outdoors as much as possible."
He credits his career to the inspiration he found watching wildlife presenters on television.
He said: "From a young age, I heard David speaking so wonderfully about animals and nature, and then I’d change channels and see Steve literally hugging a crocodile.
"I grew up seeing crocs in Sudan, but we didn’t hug them!"
Mr Yassin’s big break into mainstream stardom came in 2022, when he won BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing with professional partner Jowita Przystal.
He said: "I thought I was going out in week one, and I would just be that ‘nature dude’ who once went on Strictly Come Dancing.
"It was really special to bring wildlife to that huge audience and the people who found me on Strictly have now followed me into the natural world.
"I have a lot to thank that show for.
"It changed my life and I am so thankful to the people who have come on this journey with me, who follow me on social media, who watch the documentaries – with record viewing figures!"
Since then, he has continued to build a growing audience, encouraging people young and old to reconnect with nature.
Read more
Runner's fundraising tribute to mum who died from cancer two days before Christmas
Much‑loved County Durham pub reopens as new owner promises ‘big plans’
Much-loved GP and Northern Echo columnist died after falling from cliff
He hopes his live tour will inspire hope and positivity despite the challenges facing the planet.
Mr Yassin said: "The message that I hope to bring to people through the tour is ‘hope’: Hope about the natural world.
"There is a lot of doom and gloom out there at the moment, not just around the natural world – about everything, and it’s understandable.
"But despite all that, there is still hope and I want to share that with people."
Share