What is Poland Syndrome, the condition Strictly’s Matt Goss has?

Strictly star Matt Goss has opened up about the condition (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA)

During his time on Strictly Come Dancing, 80s pop icon Matt Goss gave it his all.

The Bros singer, 54, also opened up about his health condition – called Poland Syndrome – during his time on the hit BBC show.

Previously, he told Metro.co.uk it had been ‘affecting my confidence for years’.

Matt has shared that being on Strictly improved his posture, and he also praised the programme’s costume team for being ‘kind and discreet’ when it came to tailoring his jackets.

But just what is the syndrome? And what else has Matt said about it?

What is Poland Syndrome?

Poland Syndrome is a ‘very rare condition’, says Great Ormond Street’s Hospital for Children (GOSH).

It describes the syndrome as being ‘characterised by webbing of the fingers and of underdevelopment of chest muscle’.

GOSH notes that it usually affects one side of the body – and that it can also cause problems with the digestive tract, as well as fingers being shorter than usual.

The cause of the condition isn’t 100% clear, says GOSH, but it is present from birth.

Matt has previously described having ‘one pectoral muscle on the right side instead of two’ – adding that ‘the lower one is missing but the upper one is fine and strong’.

More: Matt Goss

Separately, he told Metro.co.uk: ‘I might not have the best posture because I’m basically missing a pectoral muscle.

‘But a few years back I saw an American swimmer win a silver medal and the commentator said he had Poland Syndrome and I was in tears because, for the first time in my life, I realised it had a name.

‘I remember as a kid, I had 12 doctors around me all going, ‘Oh, what’s this?’ 

Matt has since been keen to raise awareness of the condition, as he knows what it’s like, telling the Daily Mail: ‘I’m not disadvantaged and I want kids to know that.

80s popstar Matt is back in the UK after years living in the US (Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

‘I am going to look at creating some kind of charity to build confidence, to show kids with the syndrome they can achieve everything in life.’

The singer recently moved back to the UK from Las Vegas, where he has been performing in a residency for 11 years, at famed hotels such as Caesar’s Palace and The Mirage.

Unluckily, he was eliminated from Strictly after the show’s fourth week, but noted on Twitter: ‘@bbcstrictly was out of my comfort zone but I did gain so much from the experience.’

MORE : Matt Goss opens up about Poland Syndrome ahead of Strictly Come Dancing debut: ‘We’ve all got our issues, including me’

MORE : Matt Goss heaps praise on Strictly Come Dancing for helping with rare condition: ‘Every week I’m getting stronger’

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Matt has ‘one pectoral muscle on the right side’.