Former Strictly Come Dancing star Danny John-Jules has maintained that he behaved in a professional way throughout his time on the show, having been dogged with negative press towards the end of his stint.

Last year, Danny was a contestant on the BBC dancing show, during which time he was forced to address negative headlines suggesting he had been “bullying” his partner Amy Dowden and was on a “final warning” from producers, which they vehemently denied.

Taking to Twitter at the time, Danny said there was a “vendetta” against him in the British press, which he claimed was rooted in racism, and has once again spoken out about his time on Strictly in an interview with The Sun.

“With me and Amy, it was always professional,” he insisted. “I came in professional and I left professional.”

Explaining why he had been reluctant to share his side of the story, Danny continued: “I didn’t have to broadcast what happened. I didn’t want to wash anybody’s dirty laundry in public.

“I did everything truthfully and honestly and I wouldn’t do anything differently.

“I was expecting [the backlash] because people always talk crap about me. But I did exactly what I was hired to do and what I promised to do, which was to dance my arse off.” 

He added: “I was never told The Dancing Show was reality TV, but I found out it was one once I was on it.

“I was the oldest person there, including the professionals, but still excelled beyond and above the call of duty. I have no regrets.”

After leaving the show, Danny declined to be interviewed on spin-off show It Takes Two, although his professional partner Amy did appear solo.