His journey to the Strictly final won him millions of fans.
But Bobby Brazier has admitted he felt so ‘lost’ after the show ended that he found himself eating ice cream all the time as he struggled with his new-found fame.
The star, who narrowly missed out on the glitterball trophy with professional partner Dianne Buswell, was compared to both Sir Mick Jagger and Harry Styles during the series.
But Brazier revealed the downside of his new life, telling the Mail in an exclusive interview: ‘I felt a bit lost after the final, I had no routine at all. I ate a lot of ice cream early in the morning when I shouldn’t have.
‘I’d never seen Strictly before – of course I knew what it was and all that – but I never really imagined what it would be like afterwards.
Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell practice their routine yesterday during a rehearsal for the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing – The Live UK Tour
The EastEnders star made it to the 2023 Strictly final, but lost the Glitterball trophy to actress Ellie Leach and her professional partner Vito Coppola
The pair pose for a photo in their glittery costumes during the dress rehearsal of Strictly Come Dancing – Live UK Tour yesterday
‘But luckily I left home and went to Mauritius at the last minute and spent Christmas there. There was a buffet and there was the sun and the sea. It was pleasant.’
Brazier’s life changed significantly after the show. But his father Jeff – who raised him as a single dad after the death of his wife Jade Goody from cervical cancer in 2009 – has refused to let it go to his head.
And instead of treating his eldest son like a superstar, he raised the rent on the family home in Essex.
When asked if television host Jeff, 45, remains grounded, Brazier replied: “Whenever anyone asks me that, I always say I still feel like I haven’t even started yet. I feel like it hasn’t really started yet.
‘I’m pretty much grounded anyway, but he raised my rent again. He took the liberty and went to the real estate agents. He found out how much that room would cost, and he’s charging me! That keeps me honest!’
Since his time on Strictly, Brazier has become a heartthrob, with girls pursuing him on dates.
He insists he is single and that Mrs Buswell will always be his ‘number one, two and three’, but jokes that he is looking for new girls to be his ‘five, six, seven and eight’.
Brazier confides he met someone online and hopes to meet her while he travels around the country as part of the upcoming Strictly tour.
“I don’t look for it in the same way when I want to be good at what I do, but I like affection,” he said.
‘You know what, there’s a lovely girl from Manchester who I’m going to invite to the show, but that’s all. Point. I haven’t even met her before. We just spoke. Anyway, I’m ashamed.’
Brazier styled his hair during yesterday’s rehearsal of the Strictly Come Dancing – The Live UK Tour as he prepares to return to the stage
Brazier narrowly missed out on the glitterball trophy last year with professional partner Ms Buswell
Brazier is so popular with girls that he had to call security during a visit to London’s O2 arena last month because he was harassed by female fans.
“I was a little shocked that I was going to be harassed,” Brazier explained. ‘There was a time, funnily enough, at the O2, I went to the Jingle Bell Ball and I walked in and thought, ‘Oh, I might get stopped a few times’, and that’s fine.
“But me and my best friend sat in a corner for about half an hour. We had to call security to help us! I went to Winter Wonderland, me and my best friend and that was crazy too. There were just so many girls everywhere. So many girls.
‘Oh, it was intense. There were all these girls wanting to chat and take pictures and stuff, which is lovely. It’s cute. It’s wonderful when someone is so excited to see you.
‘It’s very sweet and I like that. Really and truly. But let me tell you, my cheeks hurt so much because you have to smile in photos, right? Towards the end I couldn’t laugh anymore.’
When asked if the girls are acting out or a little “handsy,” Brazier replied, “Well, I don’t mind hands. I am affectionate. I don’t mind a hug. Not at all, not at all. I am happy that.’
Brazier will soon return to BBC One soap EastEnders, reprising his role as Freddie Slater. But he admits he has bigger plans and is already thinking about becoming a more all-rounder.
He even admits that he is considering singing lessons.
He revealed, “I have every intention of learning how to become the best storyteller. I think in the coming years it’s just about gaining experience across the board.
“So maybe do some theater, some film, maybe learn to sing, as I say. Maybe some more dancing. I guess I’m still young, so yeah, I’m throwing myself into a lot of different things so I can learn my craft. I want to become a professional. You can’t get good at it unless you try all these different things and that’s scary.’
Brazier said his father Jeff, pictured, increased the rent on his room in their family home in Essex rather than treat his eldest son like a superstar after his Strictly success
Brazier will team up again with Ms Buswell, 34, and will perform at venues including London’s O2 and Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on the Strictly Come Dancing – Live UK Tour
On Friday, Brazier will embark on the Strictly tour – something he says is ‘like a dream come true’.
He will team up again with Ms Buswell, 34, and will perform at venues including the O2 in London and the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
Brazier admits he thinks he’ll get a “buzz” from the sheer size of the arenas, saying, “I just love having an audience, putting on a show and experiencing that with them.” ‘
He will dance the samba and the Viennese waltz – which he said is a “party.”
He said: ‘We really tell a story of elegance and maturity in the other. I can’t wait until I get five or six shows under my belt and it’s just second nature when you start adding your own little things.”