Danny John-Jules: Strictly Come Dancing 2018 star admits he disliked co-star Charles Venn
STRICTLY COME DANCING contestant Danny John-Jules has revealed he “never liked” Charles Venn before joining the BBC series. The former Death In Paradise actor made the shock revelation in the company of the Holby City star.
Strictly's Danny John-Jules gets mixed scores from the judges
Danny John-Jules didn’t hold back when he was asked about his first impressions of Strictly Come Dancing co-star Charles Venn, 45.
The 57-year-old admitted he didn’t take well to the Holby City actor before they appeared on the BBC dance contest, but insisted they are good friends now.
“We never liked each other,” the former Death In Paradise actor said. “But Strictly has brought us together.”
Agreeing, Charles told the Strictly Come Dancing: Strictly Confidential podcast: “It creates unity, you’ve got to love it for that.”
We never liked each other, but Strictly has brought us together
Explaining how close he has gotten to the former EastEnders actor, Danny added: “I know his other half, he knows my other half.
“I know his kids, he knows my kids and we grew up in the same area. I can literally see his house from our rehearsal room.”
When asked by host Scott Mills about his Strictly experience so far, the TV star replied: “What do they always say… the first thing they say when you come onto Strictly is that it’s about the curse.
“But you see it’s not going to happen here [between myself and Charles] but you never know. Dressed like this it could do.”
“If we stay in this closet long enough you might be divorced by the end of the day. We’re not partial”, he joked, as Charles laughed in the background.
Danny caused quite the stir last week when he disclosed he had chosen not to spend time with his fellow cast members outside of the show.
“I haven’t socialised with any of those people outside the show,” he told The Sun. “My focus is my next number.
“I have not been out after work with one single member of the cast, not once have I been out with them, whatever it is.”
The Red Dwarf star continued: “Anything that is part of our contract, for example It Takes Two, I’ll do, but as far as socialising, I have not been out with one member of the cast.”
Seemingly criticising his cast members, he insisted: “We came here to be tested, not to prance up and down like some old luvvie, drinking martinis and having the odd knees-up.”
Danny also described himself as “an entertainer”, before stating he is on a “different level” to the other celebrities in the competition.
This week, the TV star will be hoping to wow the judges after scoring just 22 points for his Quickstep with professional partner Amy Dowden.
His routine was plagued by mistakes after he started the dance on the wrong foot, throwing the entire performance off course.
Criticising his efforts, Bruno Tonioli, 62, said: “There is nothing like the consummate performer experience to cover a multitude of sins.
“You covered so many mistakes tonight. You covered it like I cannot believe.”
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight on BBC One at 6.15pm.