James Martin shared a behind-the-scenes moment he claims Strictly Come Dancing professionals probably “won’t admit to” in a discussion about the show with Shirley Ballas on his programme today. The BBC‘s head judge joined the chef to discuss her latest novel, life as a dancer and her time as the popular BBC competition’s head judge.
As he began prepping a dish for Shirley, James, 51, mentioned his stint on the show in 2005 when he danced with professional Camilla Dallerup. James revealed that he and the professionals used to Shirley’s Lati dance videos before she joined, something he says the pros couldn’t do as well.
He shared: “It’s 18 years since I did Strictly, but I remember when I was doing it, we used to watch videos of you doing Latin. I’m going to say this, because the pros won’t admit it, but there was one of these routines that you did, and it was just incredible.
“Not even the pros could do it as well.” Shirley seemed surprise by his admission and thanked him for acknowledging her moves as the pair went on to discuss her career and time on the show so far.
The dancer was given Len Goodman’s head judge role back in 2017 despite having no television experience and a “disastrous” interview with producers beforehand. She told James: “In 2017, when I was being badly bullied in my own industry, I decided I was going to take a different course, maybe a yoga course or a keep fit [course].
“There were people in the industry stopping my work and in 2017, my son [a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars] said to me, ‘Why don’t you go for uncle Lenny’s job?’ We had known Len all our lives, he was one of my teachers, my son had some inside scoop.
“So basically, to cut a long story short, I said, ‘Who’s going to take on a 57-year-old woman with zero TV experience on a show like that?’.”
After finally being convinced to do the interview, Shirley recalled being faced with Craig Revel Horwood for the first time and having to critique Ann Widdecombe as part of the job application process.
She continued: “I did an absolutely disastrous interview because they sat me next to this rather large man… which was Craig Revel Horwood.
“I didn’t know him and I had never met him. He was looking at me because I couldn’t string two words together. They put Ann Widdecombe on for me to criticise and I had never seen anything like that.
“That was my introduction to Strictly Come Dancing, they asked me how I think it was and I said it was rubbish.”
Shirley went on to say she was then brought back for a second interview, this time alone with an executive producer and with pre-interview advice from her son which helped.
“I nailed that interview and then the rest is history,” she concluded.
In a further discussion about the show, James said he and fellow celebrities were surprised by how much work is needed for the performances each week.
The chef added he realised just “how amazing” learning to dance was when he was “about halfway through” the show and said he could still do some of the moves.
“He was very good at Ballroom when he was on Strictly,” Shirley said of the chef, to fellow guest Richard Corrigan.
Despite his impressive efforts however, the cook finished in fourth place, missing out on the final won by cricketer Darren Gough.
James Martin’s Saturday Morning airs weekly on ITV at 9.30am.
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