Billy Monger, a racing driver who lost both his legs in a horrific crash just days before his 18th birthday, has been driving since the tender age of three when his father gifted him his first go-kart. The 25 year old competed across the UK and the Channel Islands before joining the F4 British Championship.
In 2016, at the young age of 17, he secured three podium finishes in his debut season, solidifying his status as a promising British driving talent.
He continued with the team for the 2017 season, which was tragically cut short by a devastating crash. Billy was involved in what has been described as one of the most horrific accidents in British motorsport history, resulting in a double leg amputation.
During the Formula 4 championship race in April 2017, he collided with a stationary vehicle at a speed of 120mph. He was seen overtaking another vehicle that obstructed his view of Finnish racer Patrik Pasma's slowed car, leading to the catastrophic collision.
Billy was trapped inside his vehicle for over 90 minutes at the Derby racetrack before being airlifted to a hospital in Nottingham. Despite undergoing several surgeries, doctors were unable to save his lower legs.
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His remarkable journey from the crash to his comeback was chronicled in the documentary, Driven: The Billy Monger Story, which aired on the BBC in November 2018.
Billy Monger, who returned to driving after his accident, has made appearances on several popular TV shows. Following his stint on Comic Relief, he was announced as a participant in the BBC's 2023 series of Celebrity Race Across The World, alongside his sister Bonny.
However, fans were disappointed when the duo had to withdraw from the competition. Now, Billy is back on our screens, participating in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
He has been partnered with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova, and they will be performing the American Smooth in an attempt to win the glitterball trophy with their festive routin.
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Explaining why he decided to participate in the show, Billy disclosed that he is dancing to express gratitude to the surgeon who played a crucial role in saving his life.
Speaking to The Mirror, he said: "Tom is one of many surgeons who looked after me when I needed it most. After my accident, we stayed in touch and they are part of my close network of people. His wife, Courtney, who will be coming to the show, is such a big Strictly fan."
"'When I said I might be doing Strictly, she said, 'You have to do it. I've come to Hawaii, so you need to do it'. She's the person who made me think, 'I've got to do this'".
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special airs Christmas Day on BBC One
