JB Gill is amongst the famous faces who are set to take to the Strictly Come Dancing dancefloor in the upcoming series. The JLS star is set to take to the dancefloor this weekend but it has not yet been revealed who his partner is. However, in an interview, it seems that he has now hinted at who could be teaching him to dance.
Speaking on Hits Radio, JB said he was "over the moon" when he found out who he was partnered up with. Refusing to reveal a name but saying he's met them before, he said: "It's a lady. She can dance. When I found out who I got I was over the moon, I was so excited. I've met them before and they were so lovely."
Despite having a dancing background being in the band, JB doesn't think this will help him in the show due to the differences. "It's just so alien, even the counts are just weird. You're trying to get your head around it and trying not to do what you are used to," he said.
JB thinks he could have some stiff competition against some other celebs who are taking part in the show. He said: "I genuinely believe there's some really talented dancers in the group. I know Sarah Hadland, I've worked with her before with the boys and she's such a bundle of energy and I know she's got some hips and toes in there.
"Shayne (Ward) of course, he comes from a performing background as well. I know him very well from The X Factor and I know that he's definitely going to be good. Tasha (Ghouri), she's danced, although it will be a different style of dancing, similarly to me. She's got that element of performance, she's definitely going to be one to watch."
He then explained that he think EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick is in with a chance of winning Strictly after winning the Christmas special last year. However, he also noted that Jamie has had a hard time from others due to his previous win.
JB added: "There's so many different people. Jamie (Borthwick) won the Christmas special last year. I know he's getting a bit of stick for that, but it doesn't necessarily mean anything else in terms of the longevity of the show, but he's definitely going to be one to watch as well."
The 2024 series of Strictly Come Dancing will be gracing our screens on Saturday evening where it will be revealed who each of the celebrities are coupled up with. Each will be set in their paces as they are given just a week to learn their routines.
JB Gill once experienced superstardom as a singer in the pop band JLS, performing huge arena tours and selling millions of albums. However, the Strictly Come Dancing newcomer gave it all up to retreat to a 22-acre Sevenoaks farm. He exclusively told Express.co.uk that the stresses and pressures of showbiz had become too much for him, seeing him sometimes go five or six weeks without a single day off and that he embraced a slower pace as a farmer.
He now enjoys an idyllic lifestyle with his wife Chloe and their two adorable children, Ace and Chiara, behind the scenes. They have their own livestock - including pigs, chickens and turkeys - and even grow their own vegetables amid the pear, cherry and apple trees.
However, like Jeremy Clarkson, he believes that farming lifestyles are "underappreciated" and undervalued, and would like to see more kids enjoying the countryside and learning how to be self-sufficient by growing their own food.
JB is adamant that he's not quitting showbiz or stepping away from the public eye, but that retreating to a quiet place for his private life is merely about finding balance. Recalling his transition to Express.co.uk, he explained: "I remember at one point in JLS we had about 30 or 40 days nonstop without a day off - so no weekends, no holidays, nothing."
That's why when he was making the decision about where he and his family would call home, he concluded: "I definitely wanted to be a bit further out of town.
"I was in London or a main city pretty much every day for work, so actually when I did get that time off, I wanted to spend it in the countryside."
His decision to move to quieter and more spacious surroundings paid off, especially when it meant he could exercise and get around safely during the pandemic.
"I do know personal friends who struggled with the negativity that surrounded being enclosed and not being able to get out and about," he recalled.
"I definitely do think accessing outdoor space and the countryside and being able to be immersed in nature does have its benefits."
Since then, he's educated children about the farming lifestyle via his BAFTA-nominated CBeebies show Down On The Farm.
JB has had multiple career changes during his life, as in his teen years, he was a promising rugby player. However, a shock injury after being kicked on the pitch by another player put an end to his sporting dreams, as Express.co.uk previously reported. He will now step away from the seclusion of his farm to try his hand at dancing - and while many intensive rehearsal sessions are bound to follow, he's looking forward to every minute of his new adventure.
Strictly Come Dancing launches next Saturday September 14 at 7:20pm on BBC One.
