I’ve got a raunchy secret game plan to win over Strictly viewers – and it might work at home too, says JB Gill
AS part of boyband JLS, he is used to having girls screaming for him at arenas around the country – and now JB Gill has a superfan lusting after him at home.
That’s because the punishing Strictly training schedule has taken him from farmer’s bod to sex god.
But wife Chloe isn’t keeping the singer-turned-smallholder to herself and is urging him to flash his newly toned flesh to win votes.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s Halloween special, JB — who runs a farm in Kent with his wife of ten years — couldn’t hide his smile as he revealed the effect dancing has had on his now-toned body.
The 37-year-old said: “The six-pack is incoming! I’ve definitely lost a lot of weight, and we’ve not even done half of the up-tempo numbers yet.
“So if I’m in here for the long haul, then, you know, the weight will definitely be chipping off me. Do you know what? I’m here for it!
“I think Chloe’s loving it, too. The other day she said to me, ‘Can you speak to Costume and get your arms out because your arms are looking good!’ I’m not used to these compliments flying about.
“I think people underestimate just how physically good dancing is for our bodies.
“I think my wife is very jealous. She’s already said to me she’s so upset because I’ve been doing this and she’s not been able to do it too and reap the physical benefits!”
But Chloe is certainly finding JB’s new-found stamina a boon.
Asked whether the regime had helped spice things up in the bedroom, JB grinned: “You know, I’m here for it. Now I’ll have to listen to my wife and get the guns out — I need to keep her happy as well.
“Hopefully it’ll keep the viewers at home happy, too.”
It’s a card JB, who was 21 when JLS found fame on The X Factor, might have to play sooner rather than later because last weekend he ended in the bottom two.
Despite achieving a solid judges’ score, JB and his pro partner Amy Dowden failed to impress the Strictly fans at home.
They were unanimously saved by the judges over Paul Merson in the dance-off, but have been left gutted by how close they came to getting the boot.
JB said: “We got a score of 30, so it was hardly shabby, but of course it’s always disappointing.
“When you put so much work into training and work hard throughout the week, to not have the result you want and find yourself in the dance-off is disheartening.
“It’s not what you’re looking for, but the level of the competition this year is very high. You can see the standard is right up there, so it’s just one of those things.
“I felt like I’d done everything I could and then to know I was going up against Paul was heartbreaking.”
Now JB and Amy are preparing to put their best feet forward with a foxtrot to Dancing In The Moonlight by Toploader, for the Halloween special.
‘Takes over your life’
In an amusing nod to his background as a farmer, he will take to the dance floor dressed as a menacing scarecrow while Sunday’s results show will open with an epic routine by the pro dancers, with Carlos Gu taking the lead as Beetlejuice and the others, including Katya Jones, dressed in ghoulish gear.
JB has been working overtime to try to avoid another dance-off but after two months’ hard graft it is starting to take its toll. “I was counting in bed the other night and didn’t even realise,” he explained.
“Chloe was like, ‘Is everything OK? Are you nervous?’ I was like, ‘No, I don’t think so’. This was on a Tuesday or a Wednesday as well.
“And she’s like, ‘You were literally counting out loud in your sleep’.
“It does take over your life — you take it home, you take it to work, you take it everywhere.
JB added: “I’m a perfectionist. I do like to get it right and I just want to learn and develop.
“The best way I learn is just by going over stuff, repeating it and repeating it.
“Any chance I get, you want to try the steps to make sure it’s in the body and mind.
I’m coming home for a few days and then I’m back out again.
JB Gill
“Then you’re not thinking about it too much when you go on stage because that’s when the nerves can get the better of you.” Strictly is famous for its romantic curse but JB and Chloe won’t become its latest victim.
In fact, JB says it has made him love his wife even more as she has been keeping their home, kids and farm running since he signed up for the show.
The father-of-two said: “I mean, obviously, Strictly is one thing, but I have to be appreciative of Chloe forever as she’s always doing that.
“Last year I did a TV show called Holiday Homes In The Sun and I was away for three weeks at a time.
“And then I’m coming home for a few days and then I’m back out again. I go through cycles within the year where I spend a lot of time at home, but then when I’m away, I’m away.
“It’s hard when you come back into that family bubble.
‘Wishing us well’
“She’s got a new routine she’s set up so that the kids are happy and obviously she can get everything done. I am always appreciative of her because she’s always holding us down. She helps our family work by being super-organised.
“We have a group chat with Amy and she puts all the logistics in and everything that’s going on.
“She just helps in every way. She’s amazing, honestly.”
As well as being on tour with JLS, which still includes fellow founding band members Marvin Humes, Aston Merrygold and Oritse Williams, JB has a successful TV career which has seen him appear on Countryfile as well as his own holiday show.
Some fans have been with the boys ever since they finished second to Alexandra Burke on the ITV talent show 16 years ago.
He explained: “Nowadays the girls who are coming are women who have got their own kids now.
“It was their mums who were taking them for the first time back in the day, if you want to call it that.
I feel like there was a lot more pressure back then
JB Gill
“So actually, there’s a few grans floating about who are into JLS.
“But you know what? I love it.”
Now he’s added a whole new army of admirers thanks to the BBC dance contest.
He said: “Strictly is a different audience, I guess. And it’s funny because in rehearsals we had a training space and they were doing an over-sixties tap lesson next door.
“All the ladies came in and were like, ‘Oh, we’re huge fans of the show’.
“We did the routine for them. It was nice to have their support and to know they are fans of the show — and they’re watching along and wishing us well. I’m embracing it. I don’t mind it at all!”
As well as bringing a ready-made fan base, the X Factor experience means JB is used to being judged.
He added: “I feel like there was a lot more pressure back then because when I went on stage with the boys we were fighting for our lives because we didn’t have a career then, you know?
“And that’s slightly different to this.
“Regardless of whether I’m a good dancer or not, whether I do well on Strictly or not, I’m still gonna have a career afterwards.
“I’m quite lucky and blessed to be able to say that.”
- Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One tonight at 6.25pm.