Strictly Come Dancing fears for Danny John-Jules after injury stops rehearsals days before live show

Strictly Come Dancing’s Danny John-Jules was forced to stop rehearsals just days before the first live show because of an injury.

The Red Dwarf star, who is paired with Amy Dowden, was left with swollen toes following his rigorous Foxtrot training.

“Mother Nature’s having a bit of a dig at me. I had to bandage my toes,” he told the Daily Mirror.

Dowden told how she put a stop to their rehearsals when she noticed him hobbling. “I was telling him he needed to put his feet up,” she said.

The pair will be taking their first steps in the BBC ballroom this weekend, hoping to impress with their routine to the Top Cat theme.

John-Jules, who was one of the first celebrities to be announced for this year’s show, will be Dowden’s second celebrity partner on the popular show.

The Welsh dancer was eliminated from the competition in week five last year with comedian Brian Conley.

John-Jules is one of several stars to have been hit by criticism over their dance experience, having performed on stage in Starlight Express.

But the 58-year-old wasn’t fazed by the furore around the line-up, which also saw fans take aim at Faye Tozer and Ashley Roberts, saying that “the topic comes up every series”.

He said: “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.”

Strictly Come Dancing starts Saturday, September 22 at 6.35pm on BBC One.