The firefighter currently starring in the Paddy McGuinness TV show has been on seven other reality TV shows
Meet Britain’s biggest reality TV star – currently appearing in his eighth show. Tomasz Wisniewski, 40, has been a contestant in So You Think You Can Dance, Total Wipeout and Snog, Marry Avoid.
He has also appeared in Come Dine With Me, May The Best House Win Top Model UK, and Auf Wiedersehen My Pet. And now, after a 10-year break, Nottinghamshire firefighter Tomasz has made it to Channel 4’s Tempting Fortune, his eighth reality show .
Tomasz said: “I feel like I am a fish in the water – I am used to cameras and I can be just myself now. It is funny to see how crazy I was in So You Think You Can Dance. Now looking back on it I laugh a lot. In Total Wipeout I was not aware there was a prize. Everyone was judging me for the way I looked but then I won – so don’t judge a book for its cover.
“In Come Dine With Me I can’t cook – but it was so fun. ‘I made relationships for life. Life memories come from that show. I remember I didn’t sleep at all and we would have dinner at 4pm.
The 40-year-old originally from Poland explained how his dad “inspired him” to apply to TV reality shows. His lively personality and bold style immediately conquered the heart of British viewers and producers
He said: “My dad used to be a professional tap dancer so he always inspired me. He kept telling me since I was a little boy that he wanted me to be successful. My dad has inspired me to be a superstar so the way I act in front of the cameras I suppose it’s my dad’s dream.”
Born in Wadowice, Poland, Tomasz came over to the UK aged 20 in 2005 and “didn’t speak a word of English”. He came to Nottingham with his father, who he worked alongside in Turkey as an entertainer in hotels. The plan was to stay for three months – but Tomasz “fell in love” with the UK.
Tomasz said: “When I was a young boy I was a big fan of Spice Girls and I always watched the video clips and I always felt like I would love to live in the UK. UK was great for me from day one – it gave me so many opportunities. But it wasn’t easy. I couldn’t speak in English when I came over here and I didn’t have a job.”
His first jobs were as a builder and as a car washer – and lived in a house with eleven people. He eventually learned the language and “immersed himself” in the culture – including the country’s love of reality TV.
Tomasz felt he “needed something else” in his life and moved to London – where he worked in the Hippodrome Casino. At the time he started going to TV auditions and his lively personality and his spiky blond hair captivated producers.
In 2010 he made his first TV appearance on So You Think You Can Dance – where he danced in front of Nigel Lythgoe, Louise Redknapp, Arlene Phillips and Sisco Gomez. He said laughing: “It was horrendous. I went for auditions and I believed because my dad was a dancer I’ve got hidden talent. They were giving me golden tickets.
“I ended up on the stage in front of worldwide known people and I thought I got talent but I was the entertainer – honestly I couldn’t dance. They told me ‘Tomasz we love you so much we want you to succeed in the TV industry but you’re not really great for a competition’ – everyone was laughing at me but that gave me the base I needed.”
After that Tomasz took part on Total Wipeout in 2011 – to which he eagerly points out he won. “I didn’t think I’d win that shot and then I won. I couldn’t believe it,” he said. Wanting to take a different direction in 2014 he applied for Top Model UK – where he won public vote.
But his TV life would take a turn when his dad was diagnosed with cancer. He worked as a prison officer before he moved back to Nottingham to care for his father. With his caring duties, he transferred to HMP Nottingham in 2017.
He then joined Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service as a firefighter in 2019 – which is his “dream job”. “It’s honestly the best job I could dream off. I wake up so happy every morning knowing that I can help people and mainly give it back to the community.”
With the death of his mum and dad, Tomasz decided to give reality TV another shot – after a decade-long break. He said: “My mum was only 50 years old when she passed away due to cancer – my best friend ever. My dad used to be a professional tap dancer so he always inspired me. He kept telling me since I was a little boy that he wanted me to be successful.
“My dad has inspired me to be a superstar so the way I act in front of the cameras I suppose it’s my dad’s dream. I needed to concentrate on my personal life. I thought I was too old for TV shows. Then my best friend sent me an application for Tempting Fortune – and then suddenly I am in Malaysia in a jungle with 12 strangers.”
Channel 4’s Tempting Fortune Tempting Fortune consists of 12 strangers spending three weeks in “paradise”.
They arrive with basic survival gear and in order to win the prize, they will have to resist the temptation to spend any of the prize money. About the new show Tomasz said: “It was amazing – the best experience of my life and I’ve maid the best friends.
“It was my favourite reality show because you can see the real side of me – it’s the toughest show I’ve taken part on.”
When asked if he is planning on taking part in other TV shows Tomasz explained that spectators have to “wait and see.” He added “When I was young I was trying to prove myself but when you reach 40 it’s all about all you want to do.
“But throw it at me and you’ll see – there are so much things you haven’t seen about me so you have to wait and see.”