STRICTLY Come Dancing contestant and BBC broadcaster Mike Bushell is a former member of the Hampshire Chronicle team.

The 53-year-old joined as a junior reporter back in the late 1980s. After a few weeks in the Winchester office, he moved to the Chronicle's now redundant paid-for sister paper, the Eastleigh Weekly News.

He was a member of the reporting team for around a year before leaving. Mike also studied in Winchester, obtaining a degree in drama and television at King Alfred's College – now known as Winchester University.

His first broadcasting job was with BBC Radio Solent. He subsequently moved to BBC South Today before joining the BBC News channel, and later BBC Breakfast.

He presents the sport on BBC Breakfast on Fridays and at the weekends, and sometimes on other weekdays. He holds the world record for trying different sports on his Saturday morning slot after trying out and profiling more than 350 games.

Now Mike is continuing his run on the Strictly Come Dancing competition after being saved by show judges last weekend.

His partner on the show is Russian choreographer Katya Jones, who is best known for finishing top in 2017 with dance partner Joe McFadden.