'Strictly's Danny John-Jules reveals why he quit 'Death In Paradise'

Strictly Come Dancing star Danny John-Jules has revealed why he turned his back on BBC murder-mystery drama Death In Paradise.

The former Red Dwarf actor played Officer Dwayne Myers in the show, which films in Guadeloupe in the French Caribbean, for seven series.

But he announced he was quitting ahead of the forthcoming eighth series, set to air in January next year.

He told the TV Times: “I left Death in Paradise because I wanted to get back on stage.

“I needed a bit more razzmatazz in my life, and then along came Strictly!

“I haven’t done a show for more than 20 years, so this is as close as I’m going to get to doing the jazz hands again.

“I’ve also been working on my one man show about Sammy Davis Jnr, that’s why I’m always wearing a bowler hat! My mate does a Nat King Cole act, and there’s a lot of those kinds of shows around.”

However, he also teased that he’s not averse to getting astride Dwayne’s motorbike once again.

“I’d actually like to do a Death in Paradise spin-off with Dwayne, even if it were just a one-off special,” he added.

“I have an idea, but I just need to meet up with the producer, Tony Jordan to touch base and run it past him.”

London-born John-Jules, who hit stardom playing the Cat in cult sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf with Chris Barrie and Craig Charles, has been a hit on Strictly so far.

He’s scored some serious point from the judges so far, with a 27 in week one for his foxtrot, and a 28 for cha-cha-cha in week two.

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