JB Gill, best known as a member of boyband JLS, is one of the contestants on this year's Strictly Come Dancing line-up. It isn't his first time taking to the hallowed ballroom, as he secured first place in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special in 2012, earning a near-perfect 39 out of 40 for his jive to Rockin' Robin with Ola Jordan.
'I danced in the Strictly Christmas special over a decade ago and loved it, so when I got the call to join Strictly this year, it was an immediate yes from me,' JB said when the news was announced. 'I’m raring to go and looking forward to showing off some new skills to the JLS boys. From muddy wellies on the fields of my farm to sequins and glitterballs - I’m here to embrace it all!'
Who is JB Gill?
JB, 37, was born in Croydon in December 1986. He was heavily involved with music growing up, but took a back seat when he was encouraged by his school to concentrate on rugby instead. Before long, he reverted back to singing and took up vocal coaching, which is when JLS founder Oritsé contacted him to audition for the band - who were originally called UFO. JB did briefly attend King's College London, but dropped out to focus on pursuing a music career.
JB found fame with Marvin, Aston and Oritsé in 2008 when JLS finished as runners-up to Alexandra Burke on The X Factor. Their discography comprises of five studio albums and a slew of popular singles, including their catchy debut, 'Beat Again' and the slower-paced 'Love You More'. The group disbanded in 2013 but only waited six years to delight fans with their comeback.
A year after JLS split up, JB became the first and only member to dabble in a solo career when he appeared on the single 'Best Night OML' with Charlie Hedges. Over the years, he has made numerous appearances on TV competitions, including Celebrity Masterchef, The Jump and Dance Dance Dance, and has presented CBeebies's Down on the Farm since 2015.
Who is JB's partner on Strictly?
This series, JB is partnered with Strictly favourite, Amy Dowden, who has recently returned to the show after being treated for breast cancer. She was diagnosed in May 2023 and was given the all clear before making a return to the ballroom. In their first dance of the series, JB and Amy performed the Waltz and finished at the top of the leaderboard with 31 points.
How is JB doing on Strictly?
So far, JB has impressed the Strictly judges – and viewers at home – with his dance skills and partnership with Amy. His highest score came in Movie Week, when he scored 32 out of 40 for his Wonka-themed American Smooth.
Does JB have dancing experience?
After JB's opening performance, some viewers queried whether he has too much dance experience to fairly compete on the show (as seems to happen every year with the best contestants). Of course, JB has a basic level of experience having been part of JLS, and his wife is a former professional dancer so is able to offer him a few tips at home.
However, he addressed the criticism on Lorraine and said, 'All I can say is the only dance I did before was a jive. Other than that I have got no understanding of Ballroom or Latin dancing - other than what we did last week and this week with the Cha Cha - and it hurts.'
His partner Amy then stepped in to add, 'You know I think it says everything, you know Ashton [Merrygold] did it and he didn't go all the way to the final and he's got more dance experience than you.'
JB - who stars alongside the likes of Chris McCausland - previously said, 'I do feel like a lot of the routines, a lot of the styles, especially the ballroom styles, are again very alien to me. I was not a trained dancer. I didn't go to stage school growing up, so it's gonna be a learning curve as well.'
What have JB's JLS bandmates said about Strictly?
JB's JLS bandmates and best friends Marvin Humes, Aston Merrygold and Oritsé Williams wasted no time commenting on the exciting news, writing underneath the Instagram announcement, 'Time to put that left, right, left, right, up, down to use,' referring to the fan-favourite dance routine to their 2011 number one single, 'She Makes Me Wanna'.
Aston and Marvin have also been in the audience at the Strictly live shows supporting their friend.
JB Gill's life on the farm
In 2012, JB and his wife Chloe Tangney relocated to the Kent countryside after buying a £1.5 million, 13-acre farm in Sevenoaks, where they are raising their two children. Their smallholding produces award-winning KellyBronze turkeys and free-range Tamworth pork.
JB has explained why a rural setting appeals more to him than an urban lifestyle, saying, 'I’d often heard it said that growing up on a farm is second to none. It was one of the reasons why I wanted my own young family to establish our roots in the countryside, despite having spent most of my life living in a city.
'We are able to feel part of a relatively close-knit community, something I always experienced growing up but which has become more and more unusual within society these days. We can get lost for hours in our bluebell woods or, when it’s warmer, take picnics as a family in the long grass.'
Who is JB Gill married to?
JB met his wife Chloe Tangney in 2008 when she performed as a backing dancer for JLS. They married six years later and have two children together, a nine-year-old son Ace, and a daughter Chiara who recently turned six.
Last November, Chloe marked 15 years since she and JB first met, writing, '19-year-old Chloe standing with 21-year-old JB.
'You have your arms wrapped around your husband! That smile on your face is real and the connection you felt that day is the start of something that will last forever. He will become the closest person to you! He will go through the next 15 years with you and it won’t be easy but you will become the best of friends. You will go through lots of hardship, go through the scariest of times but those will be outweighed by the happiest of times. The love you have for each other will be tested on EVERY level but you will keep pushing through, never giving up. You will become the best and closest team and have an unbreakable bond! You will have two beautiful children to give you so much joy so don’t ever give up on each other and keep the love every single day.
'Happy anniversary JB Gill - one in a million. So glad we met all those years ago. Love you!'
The Gill family won their first Royal Television Society award earlier this year for Cooking With the Gills, which scooped Best Children's TV Show. The Milkshake production, 'follows popular presenter and farmer JB Gill and his family, as they enlist the help of young cooks from around the UK to help cook a wide range of delicious recipes to serve in their rural pop-up kitchen cafe'.
The couple also performed together on Dance Dance Dance in 2017, where they finished third. JB reflected, 'It was interesting doing that show because [Chloe] comes from that background where she's been trained to do what she's done and achieving some incredible things. And I was almost bringing up the rear, kind of dragging us along. But actually working with her was brilliant.'
Supporting her husband in his new venture, Chloe wrote, 'The news is OUT! We are SO excited for you to be a part of this year's Strictly Come Dancing. We will be right behind you supporting you all the way! Love you Jb Gill #TeamJB #TheGills #strictly2024 #letsgo'.
Millie Payne is a News and Entertainment Writer for Grazia. She has specialised in showbiz interviews, features, articles and roundups for over three years and loves combining her love for writing, talking and all things popular culture.