Strictly hopeful James Bye reveals he has a secret weapon in his Glitterball chase – EastEnders co-star and the show’s reigning champ Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Deaf actress Rose, 27 – who has just left the soap – has been putting him through his paces and giving him tips… on the Square.
James, 38, says: “I’ve had a really busy week on set every day so we’ve been trying to find time in the gaps.
“Amy has had to come back over to EastEnders a few days this week. We’ve been practising in between scenes when we can. We’ve practised in the green room in front of the cast.”
James, who is performing the tango tonight with pro dancer Amy Dowden, said: “Rose is like a ray of sunshine. Her advice has been to take everything in.
“ Even though she was there until the end of Strictly she said it went so quickly – so she told me to make sure I enjoy every moment and don’t waste time.”
James says Enders bosses promised to reduce his hectic workload when he signed up for Strictly – but because scenes are planned months in advance he’s still filming full days.
He said: “I have been getting two hours of training in the morning and sometimes another two in the evening.”
By the time he gets back home to wife Victoria and their three children he’s totally exhausted.
“I have a quick chat with Victoria and go to bed. As soon as my body hits the pillow I am out. Hopefully next week or the week after it will lighten.”
James and Amy, 32, were three places off the bottom of the leaderboard last week, leaving him fearing the early boot.
“No one wants to be there,” he says. “I’ve been working hard this week and I just hope it is enough to get us through.”
While juggling his workload with training has been challenging James did claim his day job was coming in useful.
He said: “I am able to use my acting skills more in this week’s tango than I did for the jive.
“Maybe it’s because the dance is a bit more serious and intense, which is similar to life on EastEnders.”
And James also revealed there are some side benefits to his Strictly role back home.
He said Victoria had started to notice the effect that his intense training was having on his physique.
He added: “I have definitely lost some weight and I feel much fitter. “I wouldn’t say Victoria was impressed with my body, that’s a big word.
“But I have to say she’s definitely noticed the difference since I’ve been doing Strictly.”
Meanwhile James’ training guru Rose – who danced to victory last year with pro Giovanni Pernice to the delight of Strictly fans – is looking for new challenges after her two years on the soap as Mick Carter’s daughter Frankie Lewis.
Fans will see her exit the Square in the next few weeks.
