Strictly Come Dancing's Danny John-Jules is 'not bothered' by backlash over his past dance training but admits he's still nervous to perform live

The Red Dwarf actor started his career on the West End stage, starring in the original production of Starlight Express.

He also performed as a dancer in the music video for Wham! song, Edge of Heaven, but speaking to The Sun Online ahead of tonight's launch show, Danny is taking any negative comments in his stride.

He said: "Obviously this is a topic that comes up every series.

"I’m not bothered about it because there have been a load of people that have gone before me that have had to go through this and it will continue until the end.

"Obviously the stand-up comedians and all those guys come in and they’re really unlike us who have had experience in movement and shows.


"Those guys stand up next to a microphone and all of a sudden he’s doing a routine with someone from Steps, someone from the West End so for them that’s the real shock.

"When you see their progress you realise that they have progressed from here to here [holds hands wide apart] and you’ve kind of gone from there to there [holds hands closely together]."

Despite his years of experience performing in front of live audiences and on TV, the 57-year-old admitted he's still anxious about the Strictly live shows.

He said: "Anyone that tells you they’re not nervous before a live show is lying.

"The last series we did of Red Dwarf, you know we’ve been doing the show 31 years, we’re whimpering wrecks before we go out."

But Danny can't wait to get started and just enjoy the Strictly experience in all its glory.

He added: "As far as I’m concerned, they said to me 'do you want to win?' I said 'I’d like to win but I want to enjoy it more than I’d like to win'.

"For me, that’s what I’m here for. I don’t see these guys as competition to be chopped off at the knee to win.

"I think that’s the wrong attitude."

Strictly Come Dancing starts tonight at 7.35pm on BBC One. 


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