Yahoo News Strictly’s JB Gill talks show return after previous win
JB Gill has reflected on his previous Strictly Come Dancing experience after he won the Christmas special in 2012.
Appearing on It Takes Two with his pro partner Amy Dowden tonight (September 26), JB looked back on winning the festive competition and what made him want to return to Strictly.
"It was a long time ago. I can just about remember standing on the ballroom floor but it was an amazing time," he said of his Christmas special run with former pro Ola Jordan.
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JB said he was excited to be able to come back to the show and to "recreate" that magic, and that he previously couldn't make his schedule work with appearing on a regular Strictly season.
"The last two, three, four, five years, I'd have loved to have done it but, for one reason or another, stars didn't align," he said. "Now this is the first time that it's been the perfect time for the family, for me, the work, and so on."
JB also explained how his Strictly special experience compares to being on a regular season more than ten years in.
"I love the fact that Amy is pushing me and challenging me," he said. "I came to learn, to develop as a dancer... And dance has changed over the last five, ten years and so I'm learning new things, that's what it's all about."
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Quizzed by host Janette Manrara, Amy also weighed in on expectations from the judges, particularly Craig Revel Horwood, given JB's boyband past as a member of JLS.
Amy said that being top of the leaderboard last week did "absolutely" contribute to the pressure, but praised JB for being "naturally talented".
"He's got something you can't teach," she said. "But yes, that does put pressure on me."
For Week 2, JB and Amy will defend their top spot with a Cha Cha to 'Closer' by Ne-Yo.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday and Sunday on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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