Danny John-Jules quit ‘Death in Paradise’ because he needed more "razzmatazz" in his life.
The 58-year-old actor decided to walk away from the crime drama – in which he played Officer Dwayne Myers – after series seven because he wanted to get back on stage and couldn’t believe his luck when he was asked to take part in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ this year.
Speaking to TV Times magazine, he said: "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 [stage] 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!"
However, although he’s excited to be involved in the ballroom and latin show, Danny has already had some difficult time with training as he was forced to halt his session in August when a man locked himself in Willesden Sports Centre, London, and "exposed" himself.
Sharing footage as several police cars surrounded the sports centre, Danny said: "So I just turned up to go to the gym and this is what I was greeted with. You know what I mean. What’s going on?
"So apparently there’s a geezer or someone holed up in the gym and there’s a hostage negotiator being called for. So welcome to North West London."
He tweeted alongside the clip that it had "thwarted" his plans to train for the BBC competition.
He said: "Incident NW London has thwarted my Dance preparation #Strictly #KensalRise #Harlesen #Willesden. (sic)"
A police spokesman said: "Police were called at 7.53am on Wednesday, August 29 to Willesden Sports Centre, following reports of a man exposing himself.
"The suspect, a 34-year-old man then jumped into the pool and threatened to harm officers and members of the public.
"All members of the public evacuated the pool and no one has suffered any injuries. Officers are concerned for the man’s welfare and remain at the scene. The centre remains closed."
Danny John-Jules quit Death in Paradise because he needed ‘razzmatazz’
