Strictly star tells his partner: you truly inspired me

DANNY John-Jules has thanked his Strictly Come Dancing partner Amy Dowden and said he should have expressed his gratitude more often.

The actor was booted out of the competition in Sunday’s results show after making headlines for having a row with Dowden, which she later said was “intense”, although added she never felt “threatened or bullied” by him.

Responding to a tweet from Dowden, from Caerphilly, who praised him for his performances and for getting the first 10 of the series, JohnJules wrote: “I should of have expressed my gratitude more often. You truly inspired me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the knowledge I have taken away with me, courtesy of your good self.”

In another tweet, the Red Dwarf star said he would like to thank the “people of Wales (for) their amazing support”, referring to Dowden’s home.

Replying to BBC Radio Wales host Eleri Sion, he said: “I’m sorry I couldn’t get Amy further.”

He said she is a “great ambassador for dance” and for Wales.

John-Jules, 58, and Dowden, 27, were in the bottom two with Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse after their Caribbean-themed samba landed them at the bottom of the leaderboard for the second week in a row.

After both couples danced again, judge Craig Revel Horwood chose to save John-Jules and Dowden.

But Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli opted to save Swann and Mabuse, meaning John-Jules and Dowden were eliminated and will miss out on the chance to perform in Blackpool next week.