Red Dwarf Danny: I won’t be struck by TV marriage curse
RED Dwarf star Danny John-jules insists the Strictly curse won’t ruin his marriage – as he and his wife have beaten tougher challenges.
He spent almost seven years away from wife of 17 years Petula Langlais and their two children while filming Death In Paradise in the Caribbean, missing important family events.
Danny, 57 – partnering pro Amy Dowden, 27 – said: “If I didn’t fall under the train then I’m not going to now. That was a tough seven years. I missed her birthday every year. I missed the kids’ sports days and all that. “But hey, that’s showbiz.” Danny says the biggest challenge will be his age: “I’m the oldest one in the show.”
A performer for 40 years, some reckon he has an unfair advantage. But Danny says he never had real training – so is relying on his big personality to win.
“My experience was picked up along the way.
“I’ve seen so many fantastic dancers who have absolutely no personality.” Danny was caught in a row after historic tweets he posted accusing Strictly of racial bias resurfaced. But he insists: “For me it was funny. I was talking about people I knew. I used my toxic sense of humour to take the mickey.” Danny has already spotted his biggest rival: “Graeme Swann is a dark horse. I turned round and he was doing the running man perfectly.” Cricketer Graeme, 39, isn’t so sure – despite partnering 2016 runner-up Oti Mabuse, 28. He revealed: ”My mum told me, ‘You’ve got to have dance lessons.’ But I’ll just be learning on the job.” The married dad-of-two admitted: “I always secretly wanted to dance but playing sport there was the stigma. But now I can openly do it, it’s is brilliant.” Meanwhile ex-blue singer and one-time Lothario Lee Ryan, 35, says he has a one-track mind – and it’s not on blonde partner Nadiya Bychkova, 29. “I’ll be keeping my eyes on my feet,” he said. “I have enough to concentrate on.”