JJ Chalmers in Strictly

IT was unlike Strictly Come Dancing’s Mr Nasty, Craig Revel Horwood, to use the F-word so early in the series. “Carry on like that, da-ahling, and we could see you in the final,” he drawled, as a gobsmacked JJ Chalmers and his professional partner Amy Dowden stared in disbelief. Chalmers is the former Royal Marine who is carrying Scotland’s hopes on his shoulders in this year’s Saturday night glitterfest. Thank goodness he can dance.

“Well, I hope so,” he says, with a laugh. “’I’m very grateful to everyone who has voted so far. It was incredible to get a comment like that so early in the competition, but I am not thinking that far ahead, not at all.”

He says, seriously: “Every Monday morning, I’m starting from scratch. You can have the best Saturday night, and the most brilliant foxtrot or wonderful jive, but you have to forget those highs when you get back into the training room for the next week.”

He pauses. “But it is good to hear nice comments like that,” he adds. “Makes you think all that hard work and effort is paying off after all.”

Hard work comes naturally to Chalmers, who is an Invictus Games medallist and TV presenter.

He agrees he has always been ‘driven’ – quick to be hard on himself, and unforgiving of his own mistakes. Last Saturday, he and Amy Dowden narrowly avoided being knocked out of the show, having ended up at the bottom of the table following a low-scoring jive.

“I can’t put into words what this means to me,” he tweeted after being saved by the public vote. “Not the scores I’d hoped for, but ultimately a response beyond my belief.”

During a break in training for tonight’s quick-step, Chalmers is equally earnest. “I have always been grateful for the opportunities which come my way,” he says. “These are big, shiny opportunities, and I would never take anything for granted. My time in the military taught me that.

“I’m determined to make the most of every opportunity. And everything about this show is amazing. To learn a new skill, from someone as brilliant and as lovely as Amy, is just fantastic. I’m having the time of my life.”

This year’s Strictly is a Strictly like no other. Celebrities and professionals have left family behind to ‘bubble up’ with each