Ian Wright's Surprise 'Strictly' Appearance Sparks Fan Amazement Over His Age
Viewers expressed shock and disbelief on social media regarding the apparent age similarity between the former footballer and his father.
Fans of the television show Strictly Come Dancing expressed astonishment after realizing that former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips's father is Ian Wright. Ian Wright, 62, made an unexpected appearance on the show's Saturday broadcast, visiting Shaun and his professional dance partner, Alexis Warr, during their rehearsal.
Shaun Wright-Phillips, 44, and Warr, 26, were practicing their Quickstep routine to "I’m a Believer" by The Monkees when Wright arrived. He commented on their performance to the camera, stating, "I thought his moves were really good. Alexis is brilliant. I'm very proud of him. When he gets into that place where he has focus for something he will be brilliant."
Upon seeing the father and son together, viewers took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to share their reactions. Many commented on how Wright and his son appeared to be of similar ages, with one user writing, "How does Ian Wright’s son look older than his dad?" Another user stated, "Had no idea that Ian Wright was Shaun’s dad, I had to Google it." A common sentiment echoed by viewers was, "Ian Wright looks the same age as Shaun Wright-Phillips! Mouth hit the floor."
Arsenal legend Ian Wright adopted Shaun at the age of three, following the start of his relationship with Shaun's mother, Sharon Phillips. Shaun Wright-Phillips went on to have a successful career in professional football, playing as a winger for clubs such as Manchester City and Chelsea. He won the Premier League title and earned 36 caps for the England national team before retiring in 2019. His brother, Bradley Wright-Phillips, and his son, D'Margio Wright-Phillips, also pursued careers in professional football.
During their performance on Strictly Come Dancing, Shaun and Alexis received a score of 15 from judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke, placing them near the bottom of the leaderboard.