Strictly on the Radio

J-J is Strictly the right voice for radio

An award-winning Bromsgrove dance performer and teacher has been invited by the BBC to review the new series of Strictly Come Dancing after proving a hit with listeners in 2019.

John-James will air his views on the eternally popular entertainment programme on BBC Hereford and Worcester’s Evening Show every Monday from now until the end of the series. “I feel quite humbled to be invited by the BBC to review Strictly,” J-J told Completely Bromsgrove. “The show is now in its 18th season and I’ve watched them all. I teach group classes and professionals and the programme inspires them. They also enjoy commenting on some of the big talking points – and Strictly certainly has plenty of those.” Who is J-J tipping to lift the prestigious glitterball trophy on December 19? “There are a couple of pairings on my radar and I’m really excited by the prospect of the show’s first same sex couple, Nicola Adams and Katya Jones. “As a double Olympic boxing gold medallist, Nicola will be familiar with high intensity training and, even though she has retired from the sport, she will have impressive stamina levels. “Katya is no nonsense, hard-working and approaches every performance like she is taking part in the world championships. “Between them, they have the physical and psychological requirements to go all the way.”

A dance performer and dance teacher for more than 20 years, J-J now runs his own company New Salsa but his journey to this point has been anything but traditional. Although he trained and worked as a carpenter after leaving school, he always had a secondary career as an entertainer, working the clubs, pubs and parties, weekends and evenings as a magician. J-J then discovered mind reading, auto suggestion and psychology, before becoming a hypnotherapist, psychotherapist and a certified practitioner of neuro linguistic programming and later fell in love with dance after taking salsa lessons. New Salsa specialise in many salsa styles including Cuban, X-Body, L.A, Columbian and Puerto Rican to enable participants to dance salsa anywhere around the world. Not only has J-J taught salsa across the globe, he’s also been asked to perform in Cuba and help the local professionals brush up their skills. The BBC have also featured his classes and performances on various shows and a film company is currently producing a dance TV show about what he does. BBC Hereford and Worcester’s evening show runs from 7pm to 10pm. Listen on FM, DAB or via the BBC Sounds app - www.bbc.co.uk/sounds