JB Gill: ‘Becoming a professional dancer after Strictly? Never say never’-Robert Oliver-Entertainment – Metro

JB Gill becoming a professional dancer after Strictly? Well, ‘Never say never’ (Picture: PA Wire/BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing 2024 semi-finalist JB Gill has said ‘never say never’ to the prospect of becoming a professional dancer.

The JLS singer, 37, is paired with dance pro Lauren Oakley, 33, and they both know that they’re just two good dances away from the Strictly final.

JB and Lauren have been paired up since week seven, when JB’s original partner, Amy Dowden, was sadly forced to leave the show after suffering a foot injury.

Things have gone well for them since then, however, racking up two 39-point dances in recent weeks after impressing judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke.

And on Saturday night they’ll be hoping to go one step further and reach the Strictly grand final, with their eyes focused on the famous Glitterball Trophy.

Ahead of the penultimate 2024 live show, Metro.co.uk caught up with JB and Lauren as they made their final preparations for Saturday’s semi-final showdown – and JB might well have caught the dancing bug.

Lauren Oakley and JB are dancing for a spot in the Strictly final (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)

‘My body is under fire,’ JB says of their last-minute rehearsals. ‘But it’s so exciting. Having two dances is great fun, they’re both energetic – the salsa and the pasodoble. We’ve got to give 110% but it’s going to be amazing.’

Over the last 12 weeks, JB has made the ballroom floor his home, but how did he react before his Strictly journey even began? Doing choreographed routines with JLS is one thing – impressing Craig is another entirely.

‘When my agent spoke to me about doing Strictly, I was all in. It’s an incredible opportunity. The thought of being able to learn so many different styles of dance was amazing. [Considering] it’s Strictly’s 20th anniversary as well, it was a no-brainer.’

He continued: ‘And week one was so special. I immediately did something I’d never done before – dancing a waltz, with Amy. And it was especially special for her, too, because it was her first series back after her recovery.’

Amy stepped aside after picking up an injury in week seven, and in came Lauren, who danced with Channel 4 news anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy in 2023 but hadn’t been selected for the main line-up this year.

JB will join the live tour from January 19 to February 9 in 2025
(Picture: BBC/PA Wire)

Lauren says any potential problems were overcome almost instantly: ‘Dancing is my job. I just had to make sure I was ready to step forward. I was so happy to be dancing with JB, and Amy did such a fantastic job.

‘She made it easy for me to work with JB because she did all the foundational work. I just wanted to carry that forward and do my best for Amy, as well as JB – in the end, it’s his journey.’

JB says he was devastated to lose Amy but, after being introduced to Lauren, knew he eager to embrace the new challenge presented to him.

And Lauren agrees, beaming with pride as she says, ‘JB picks up choreography really well. He’s easy to teach, so hard-working, he wants to do it again and again until he’s got it right. He’s an absolute dream for me.

‘I want to make sure I’ve given him the right materials to feel comfortable [on the dancefloor].’

Lauren stepped in to partner JB after Amy Dowden pulled out of the competition due to injury (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)

16 years ago this week, JB was 21 years old and facing a completely different kind of semi-final: The X Factor semi-final, alongside his JLS bandmates Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, and Oritsé Williams.

JLS finished second that year, coming in as runners-up to Alexandra Burke, but in the semi-final they received the highest number of public votes and were the first act through to the final. Diana Vickers went home, while Alexandra and Eoghan Quigg joined JLS in the last three.

JB says he’s hoping to repeat JLS’ semi-final triumph from 2008: ‘The semi-final was our best performance [on The X Factor] so hopefully that bodes well for Saturday! With that said, I can enjoy Strictly more – this is about executing what me and Lauren have been working on in training.

‘I want to do this for my family, and everyone who’s been supporting us and voting for us. We get to dance on live TV and call that my job. Whatever happens on Saturday, we’re positive and we’ll have give it our best shot.’

Aston competed on Strictly in 2017, making it to week seven before being controversially eliminated. Will JB be straight on the phone to Aston if he’s the one lifting the Glitterball Trophy next Saturday?

JB (left) is hoping to reach his second talent show final (Picture: Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)

‘Well, the JLS boys have been watching! Especially Aston. He’ll be happy to see me get as far as possible. He told me, he sees it as JLS’s redemption on Strictly. But I’m doing this for all of us – I’m part of JLS and always will be – I want to represent them.’

With Strictly Come Dancing coming to an end for another year, JB’s eyes are starting to focus on what might be in the pipeline for him after this brand new experience.

First up, he’ll be joining fellow X Factor alumni Shayne Ward, as well as Tasha Ghouri, Montell Doughlas, Wynne Evans, Sarah Hadland, and Jamie Borthwick, on the Strictly Come Dancing live tour – that runs from January 17 to February 19, 2025.

Once the tour is concluded, though, does JB want to – as Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman remind us every week – keeeeeeeep dancing?

‘I would never, ever say never. After shows like Strictly, the winners have gone into musical theatre and stage productions – they’ve taken their dancing experience further. That’s something I would love to do. There’s nothing in the plans yet, but, never say never.’

And Lauren wants to see JB keep his dancing shoes firmly on: ‘If JB was to take on ballroom and Latin dancing post-Strictly, I’d be so on board. I’d be ready to brush my dancing shoes and dance with him every single day.’

If it’s not to be for Lauren and JB, and one of Tasha, Pete Wicks, Chris McCausland, or Sarah lifts that Glitterball trophy, the pair insist they would be delighted anyway, with Lauren celebrating the ‘camaraderie’ between the couples and JB hailing Strictly 2024 as ‘extra special’.

He celebrated his co-stars: ‘For me, this season has been incredible. Everyone has different strengths but one of things I’ll take from this experience is that everyone competing champions everybody else. Everybody’s supporting you as much as themselves. This year has been extra special.’

Watch Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One, Saturday at 6.30pm.

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