Danny John-Jules jokes he signed up for Strictly Come Dancing because of curse

Danny John-Jules has joked the \'Strictly Come Dancing\' curse was the reason he signed up for the show.

The 58-year-old actor has poked fun at the so-called hoodoo - which has been coined after several celebrity contestants started dating their professional partners following appearances on the programme - but the \'Red Dwarf\' star, who is partnered with Amy Dowden, quipped that was the main attraction to him about the show.

When asked if he has managed to "swerve" the \'Strictly\' curse, Danny - who is married to Petula Langlais - joked: "Oh no, no. That was the draw.

"That\'s what got the ink on the paper. Oh yes, yes, I\'ll be sleeping on the floor tonight but never mind."

After it was suggested the \'Strictly\' curse does happen, Danny said: "Not to me. I\'ve been hoping but I ain\'t getting nothing.

"The great thing about us is we came in professional and we\'re going to go out professional. That\'s what it boils down to.

"If I didn\'t I\'d never learn the numbers."

The \'Death in Paradise\' star also admitted he rarely goes out socialising with the \'Strictly\' stars after a performance because he is so tired.

He said: "We finish these at two o\'clock at night, where am I going to go? The only place I\'m going to go is to A&E. That\'s where I\'d be.

"I can\'t wait to get home because you put your head down on the pillow and before you know it you\'re up again and you\'re in front of Amy."

Amy added: "You always say you can\'t wait to go home and have a bath."

Danny also admitted his Welsh pro dancing partner does a good job keeping him in line, and the 27-year-old star said he has been putting in hard graft during rehearsals.

She said: "He works so hard, and we\'re just loving it aren\'t we?"

In a joint interview on \'Lorraine\', he added: "This is re-living my misspent youth. I need the Welsh fire underneath me, because my attention span is about the size of a gnat.

"The Welsh dragon comes out and a few lashes with the hollow whip and I\'m back in line.

"She tells me what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. I hate it but I have to do it."