Strictly Come Dancing in major shake-up as JB Gill makes show history on live tour
STRICTLY Come Dancing’s JB Gill will make show history on the live tour by having TWO partners – and he’s thrilled.
The 38-year-old looked like the cat that got the cream as he stood in between Lauren Oakley and Amy Dowden.
The female professionals will both perform with JB Gill throughout the nationwide tour after Amy’s cancer battle and injury struggle.
JLS star JB told The Sun: “This year’s going to be completely different.
“It’s the first time anyone’s gone on a tour as a trio.
“It’s amazing. Making a bit of Strictly history is fantastic and, of course, coming here, kicking it off in Birmingham.
“I’m very much looking forward to being back in arenas and performing.
“I’m used to doing tours of course with the boys, but to be able to have two beautiful ladies beside me instead is going to be very, very nice.
“It’s going to be amazing. I’m really looking forward to it.”
JB Gill has been treating his girls to ginger shots before the show – as well as delivering teas and coffees to keep them happy.
Lauren said: “It’s going to be really collaborative. In act one, JB’s dancing with Amy – one of their dances from the show.
“Then in act two we’ll be dancing together.
“For the group dances we share. It’s team vibes.
“Absolutely no jealousy here. Just team work.”
Amy was forced to pull out of Strictly’s 20th series after returning for the first time since her cancer treatment.
She blamed an “insufficiency stress fracture” on her shin for the decision.
All your Strictly Come Dancing winners
Strictly first kicked off back in 2004, and over the years has crowned 21 winners.
Here is a full list of who has been lucky enough to win the famous Glitterball Trophy:
- 2004 – Natasha Kaplinsky
- 2004 – Jill Halfpenny
- 2005 – Darren Gough
- 2006 – Mark Ramprakash
- 2007 – Alesha Dixon
- 2008 – Tom Chambers
- 2009 – Chris Hollins
- 2010 – Kara Tointon
- 2011 – Harry Judd
- 2012 – Louis Smith
- 2013 – Abbey Clancy
- 2014 – Caroline Flack
- 2015 – Jay McGuiness
- 2016 – Ore Oduba
- 2017 – Joe McFadden
- 2018 – Stacey Dooley
- 2019 – Kelvin Fletcher
- 2020 – Bill Bailey
- 2021 – Rose Ayling-Ellis
- 2022 – Hamza Yassin
- 2023 – Ellie Leach
- 2024 – Chris McCausland
Lauren replaced Amy and helped take JB to the final where he finished runner-up to winner Chris McCausland.
Amy told us of the live tour: “I’m absolutely loving it and excited to be on the road.”
Joking about being “greedy” by having not one, but two stunning dancers on his arm, JB said: “I’m only doing what I was told. So there you go.”
Teasing fans to expect surprises during the live tour, Lauren added: “I think this year is super special because it’s the 20th anniversary.
“They’ve gone all out. Surprises wouldn’t be surprises if we told you what they were, but they’ve thrown everything at it.”
- Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour opens in Birmingham on Friday, January 17, for the first night of 30 shows across the UK.