AND GLAMOUR Danny: Bruno’s been a pal for 35 years
But he won’t go easy on me
RED Dwarf star Danny John-jules has a long-time friend among the Strictly judges – but stresses he wants extra-tough treatment to avoid “fix” accusations.
The Death in Paradise actor said he has known Bruno Tonioli for more than 35 years. But Danny, 57, insisted: “I don’t expect any old pals’ act. Bruno and I used to go to a dance centre together but I want him to be as wicked to me as he is to everyone else on Strictly – and he will be.
“I don’t want him to be nice to me on the show because it would look like a fix.”
Danny also revealed that he has apologised to panellist Bruno after tweets he posted two years ago sparked a race row when they resurfaced last week.
The posts accused Strictly of racial bias – but Danny says they were made in jest and were a result of his “toxic” humour.
“For me it was quite funny,” he said. “I was talking about people I knew in the show. I had lots of conversations with Red Dwarf fans who kept asking if I was doing Strictly. I used my toxic sense of humour to take the mickey out of that.”
Some critics have said Danny’s long showbiz career gives him an advantage as a contestant. But he claims that is not so, as he was never coached professionally.
“My experience was picked up along the way,” he said. “Show dancers hated me as I’d be on at them to teach me more steps. That’s how I got my training.”
He says that, if anything, he is handicapped by his age – pointing out: “I’m the oldest dancer here.”
His game plan involves banking on his character to shine out. “I’ve seen many fantastic dancers who have no personality,” the dad-of-two said. And he insists Strictly will not harm his marriage to wife Petula Langlais. “I’ve been with her 17 years and for seven of those I was filming in the Caribbean,” he said. “If we survived that we can get through anything.” Red Dwarf’s Danny John-jules and Amy Dowden