JB Gill defends Strictly Come Dancing competitors with dance experience

JB Gill defends Strictly Come Dancing competitors with dance experience

JB Gill - who took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2024 – doesn’t believe the Strictly contestants with dance experience have an advantage over their other competitors.

JLS star JB Gill has defended the Strictly Come Dancing contestants who have dance experience.

The singer – who competed on the BBC ballroom show in 2024 – says the critics need to stay silent on the competitors like Amber Davies and Lewis Cope who have had previous dance training because it’s not the same discipline as Strictly.

Speaking to BANG Showbiz at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards, he said:

To take on a new dance routine, dance style that you perhaps never danced before and do it - learn it in a week, and then go and perform it live on national television.

That takes some doing. Everyone's doing an incredible job, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.

What do you make of some of dancers taking part having trained dance experience, such as Lewis Cope and Amber Davies and others. Do you think that really matters - I should say they're not trained in Latin or Ballroom.

Well, that's the thing. I think because they're not trained in Latin or Ballroom.

It possibly might help from a performance perspective. If people are used to performing, of course that will help, because there's an element of stage presence and performance that's needed in every routine.

I think that's why a lot of the actors do well because although they might not necessarily be trained in dance, the fact that they're able to bring characterisation to what they do really, really helps. So, I don't think it gives them any more advantage than anybody else.

If someone's a great actor, even if they've never danced, they're able to bring that element to what they do and what they put out on a Saturday night.

So I think at the end of the day, we all have our strengths, we have our weaknesses, and ultimately, you're learning from scratch every single week.

For most people, even if they've done one style before and been involved in maybe the Christmas special or something, you know, there are so many different styles to pick up and learn.

They all have their different traits, they're all difficult to learn in a week. You've got to think, these pros have been doing it for years on end, in order to be professional.

So to expect professional performances for someone who's done it for a week is [unrealistic].

But, everyone goes out there, everyone gives it their all and ultimately, you want to see good dancing. If someone's got a good background in dancing or performing, great. Brilliant.