James Jordan (dancer)

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James Jordan
Born (1978-04-13) 13 April 1978 (age 47)
Occupation(s)Dancer, choreographer
Years active2006–present
Television Strictly Come Dancing (2006–13)
Celebrity Big Brother (2014, 2017)
Dancing On Ice (2019)
Spouse
(m. 2003)
Children1

James Jordan (born 13 April 1978) [1] is an English ballroom dancer and choreographer. His dance partner is his wife Ola Jordan, with whom he turned professional in 2000. Jordan appeared as a professional on Strictly Come Dancing from 2006 to 2013. In August 2014, he participated in the fourteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother . He finished in third place. He returned as an All-Star for the nineteenth series, where he was evicted in thirteenth place.

Contents

In 2018 he appeared along with his wife, Ola, on Comedy Central's Your Face or Mine? . On 10 March 2019, Jordan won the eleventh series of Dancing on Ice , where he was partnered with professional Finnish figure skater Alexandra Schauman.

James is currently, December 2024, at the pinnacle of his career playing Dandini in Cinderella at The Winding Wheel Theatre in Chesterfield.

Dancing career

Jordan was born in Gillingham, Kent, [2] and attended St John Fisher Catholic School in Chatham. [2] He started dancing at the age of 13. He now dances with his wife, Ola. Ola previously danced with Przemek Lowicki in Poland; James previously danced with Agnieszka Melnicka, but they split in 1999. He also danced with Kate Pothecary (1996) and Elisabeth Haraldsdottir (October 1997 – December 1997). [3]

James and Ola's first recorded dance as a partnership was in the Dutch Open in 2000, [4] though they did not turn professional until 2003. [5] The couple retired for a while, in favour of teaching Latin American dancing in Hong Kong, though they returned to competition later. [6]

In May 2006, the couple came second in the Blackpool Professional Rising Stars Latin event, [7] and in November they came third in the British Championship, Professional Latin. [4] In 2010, he was a choreographer in So You Think You Can Dance . As of 2014 they live near Maidstone in Kent, [2] close to his family who live on St Mary's Island, Medway. [2]

Strictly Come Dancing

Highest and lowest scoring performances per dance

SeriesPartnerPlaceAverage
Score
4 Georgina Bouzova 10th19.3
5 Gabby Logan 11th30.0
6 Cherie Lunghi 8th32.4
7 Zöe Lucker 10th31.4
8 Pamela Stephenson 3rd35.1
9 Alex Jones 5th30.3
10 Denise van Outen 2nd35.1
11 Vanessa Feltz 14th20.7

Series 4 (2006)

In his first series as a Strictly professional, Jordan partnered Casualty actress Georgina Bouzova.

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoresResult
Craig Revel Horwood Len Goodman Arlene Phillips Bruno Tonioli Total
2 Rumba / Let's Get It On 352414Bottom two
3 Jive / Burning Love 363618Bottom two
4 Foxtrot / Have You Met Miss Jones? 586726Eliminated

Series 5 (2007)

In the fifth series of Strictly, Jordan was partnered by BBC Sport presenter Gabby Logan, whose rugby union player husband Kenny Logan was partnered by Ola Jordan. This was the first time two married couples had competed against each other. Gabby and James were voted out in Week 4 of the competition, [8] as he did in the previous series while Kenny and Ola were voted out in Week 9 (ending up in 5th place).

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoresResult
Craig Revel HorwoodLen GoodmanArlene PhillipsBruno TonioliTotal
2 Quickstep / Things 877729Safe
3 Jive / Saturday Night's Alright 887831Safe
4 Samba / Eso Beso (That Kiss) 787830Eliminated

Series 6 (2008)

In the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing, James Jordan danced with actress Cherie Lunghi, while Ola's partner was the GMTV presenter Andrew Castle. After having exited so early in his previous series, James was concerned he was under a "four-week curse", which was then broken. He and Lunghi were voted off in Week 9, in a dance-off against Lisa Snowdon and her partner Brendan Cole. In January–February 2009, Jordan also danced with Lunghi on the Strictly Come Dancing Tour 2009.

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoresResult
Craig Revel HorwoodLen GoodmanArlene PhillipsBruno TonioliTotal
2 Foxtrot / Sweet About Me 898833Safe
4 Rumba / Songbird 989935Safe
5 American Smooth / Layla 799934Safe
6 Paso Doble / Amparito Roca 788831Safe
7 Salsa / Oye Mi Canto (Hear My Voice) 676726Safe
8 Waltz / I Wonder Why 999936Safe
9 Cha Cha Cha / Play That Funky Music 788932Eliminated

Series 7 (2009)

In series 7, he was partnered by actress Zöe Lucker but they were eliminated in week 7. Jordan stated that "winning that trophy is my dream but I wouldn't give up this wonderful lady for that ball." Eventually, wife Ola won the competition that year, partnered with presenter Chris Hollins.

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResult
Craig Revel HorwoodLen Goodman Alesha Dixon Bruno TonioliTotal
2 Waltz / Some Day My Prince Will Come
Rumba / Out of Reach
7
8
8
7
7
8
8
8
30
31
Safe
3 Paso Doble / You Got the Love 788831Safe
4 Foxtrot / This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) 898833Safe
5 Jive / Tainted Love 788730Bottom two
6 American Smooth / My Girl 889833Safe
7 Samba / Boogie Nights 789832Eliminated

Series 8 (2010)

In the 2010 series, Jordan was partnered with comedian and psychologist Pamela Stephenson. Despite competing at the age of 61, Pamela quickly defied all odds by topping the judges' leaderboard for the first three weeks of the competition, and for six weeks in total, a record for the series. In week 10, their Viennese Waltz received the first ever perfect 40 from the judges for the series. The pair made it to the Strictly final, and despite never being in the bottom two even once before and were the highest-scoring couple throughout the evening, they eventually finished in third place behind actress Kara Tointon and presenter and former gymnast Matt Baker. Pamela and James collected three perfect scores from the judges throughout the series, a record at the time they shared with Lisa Snowdon and Brendan Cole in series 6.

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoresResult
Craig Revel HorwoodLen GoodmanAlesha DixonBruno TonioliTotal
1 Waltz / If I Ain't Got You 788831Safe
2 Salsa / Dr. Beat 888832Safe
3 Rumba / Make You Feel My Love 989935Safe
4 Tango / Love is the Drug 889934Safe
5 Jive / Devil Gate Drive 677727Safe
6Foxtrot / Let There Be Love 898833Safe
7 Cha Cha Cha / Money (That's What I Want) 888832Safe
8 American Smooth / Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps 89101037Safe
9 Charleston / Let's Misbehave 99101038Safe
10 Viennese Waltz / Unchained Melody 1010101040Safe
11 Paso Doble / Bad Romance
Swing-a-thon / In the Mood
Quickstep / Steppin' Out with My Baby
8
Awarded
10
9
3
10
9
Extra
10
9
Points
10
35
38
40
Safe
12 Viennese Waltz / Unchained Melody
Showdance / The Time of My Life
10
9
10
9
10
9
10
10
40
37
Third Place

Series 9 (2011)

The One Show presenter Alex Jones was James Jordan's partner in the 2011 series. Jordan and judge Craig Revel Horwood were involved in a minor feud, [9] as a 6 for Jones' Charleston in week 9 caused the couple to flutter down the leaderboard, as opposed to their top position the week before. The tough score outraged the professional dancer as he reportedly stormed out of the studio fuming, feeling the score to be undeserved and personal against James. Horwood further defended his judgement by claiming himself to be "tougher" as the competition goes. This feud was further reiterated when Horwood dropped James and Ola Jordan from the Strictly tour later in the year. Alex Jones reached the semi-final, eventually coming fifth in the competition.

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResult
Craig Revel HorwoodLen GoodmanAlesha DixonBruno TonioliTotal
1 Cha Cha Cha / When Love Takes Over 466622Safe
2 Foxtrot / Have You Met Miss Jones? 687829Safe
3 Viennese Waltz / Memory 888832Safe
4 Rumba / Run 477725Safe
5 Paso Doble / Bring Me to Life 788831Safe
6 Quickstep / It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 788831Safe
7 Jive / River Deep, Mountain High 788831Safe
8 Tango / Relax 899935Safe
9 Charleston / Me and My Baby
Swing-a-thon
6
Awarded
7
5
8
Extra
8
Points
29

34

Safe
10 American Smooth / Pretty Woman 889934Safe
11 Waltz / (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Salsa / 1234
7
7
9
8
9
8
9
8
34
31
Eliminated

^ Jennifer Grey, the winner of the eleventh series of Dancing with the Stars , the American version of 'Strictly', was a guest judge, replacing Len Goodman while he had a week off. [10]

Series 10 (2012)

For its tenth series in September 2012, Jordan was partners with television presenter, actress and singer Denise van Outen. Surpassing his feat with Pamela Stephenson, he secured the top position of the leaderboard 7 times with Denise, including 4 consecutive top positions. For the second time ever, he reached the final but placed his best in the competition overall, with Outen and Jordan finishing as runners-up with singer Kimberley Walsh and her partner Pasha Kovalev, behind the winners gymnast Louis Smith and professional partner Flavia Cacace. [11]

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoresResult
Craig Revel HorwoodDarcey BussellLen GoodmanBruno TonioliTotal
1 Waltz / With You I'm Born Again 666725Safe
2 Jive / Tutti Frutti 888832Safe
3 Foxtrot / You've Got a Friend in Me 888832Safe
4 Cha Cha Cha / Super Freak 777728Safe
5 Viennese Waltz / At Last 989935Safe
6 Paso Doble / Seven Nation Army 999936Safe
7 Charleston / Walk Like an Egyptian 910101039Safe
8 American Smooth / Imagine 9991037Safe
9 Salsa / Rhythm of the Night 888832Safe
10Dance Fusion (Jive/Quickstep) / Reet Petite 899935Bottom two
11 Tango / Roxanne
Rumba / The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
9
9
10
9
10
10
10
10
39
38
Bottom two
12 Jive / Tutti Frutti
Showdance / What a Feeling
Charleston / Walk Like an Egyptian
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
39
40
40
Runner-up


Series 11 (2013)

On 7 September 2013, Strictly Come Dancing Jordan was partnered with Vanessa Feltz. The pair were eliminated in the third round.

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoresResult
Craig Revel HorwoodDarcey BussellLen GoodmanBruno TonioliTotal
1 Cha-Cha-Cha / That Don't Impress Me Much 356519No Elimination
2 Waltz / Run to You 566623Safe
3 Tango / Lay All Your Love on Me 356620Eliminated

Other television appearances

Jordan, together with Ola, took part in a celebrity version of television programme Total Wipeout which was broadcast on 26 December 2009. In 2013, Jordan took place in a celebrity version of Splash! for ITV's Text Santa.

In August 2014, James took part in fourteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother. He entered the house on Day 1 and finished third on the final night. Since 2014, Jordan has regularly appeared as a panellist on The Wright Stuff .

Jordan and wife Ola appeared on Through the Keyhole in September 2015, with host Keith Lemon.

Jordan starred in Celebrity Big Brother 19 as an "all star" housemate. He was the fourth celebrity to be evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother House.

In 2019, Jordan participated in the eleventh series of Dancing on Ice , alongside professional partner Alexandra Schauman. After receiving the most votes, Jordan and Schauman were crowned the winners of the series.

He also appeared on the fourth series of Celebrity Coach Trip , alongside wife Ola.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006–2013 Strictly Come Dancing HimselfProfessional dancer
2009 Total Wipeout Celebrity special
2012 Pointless Celebrity special
2014 Celebrity Big Brother Series 14
2015Seven Days with...Series 2, Episode 1
2015–2018 Big Brother's Bit on the Side Panellist
2017 Celebrity Big Brother Series 19
2019 Dancing on Ice Series 11 winner
2019 Celebrity Coach Trip Series 4

References

  1. "Biodata for James Jordan". Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Strictly Come Dancing star James Jordan enters Celebrity Big Brother house". Kent Messenger. 18 August 2014.
  3. "DancesportInfo.net".
  4. 1 2 Rullens, Piet. "DANCEPLAZA.COM - [RESULTS]".
  5. "Login". Archived from the original on 4 November 2009.
  6. "James Jordan personal profile". Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  7. "DancesportInfo.net".
  8. "Utopian-totality.co.uk".
  9. "'Strictly' Horwood, Jordan continue spat". Digital Spy . 30 November 2011.
  10. "Jennifer Grey to guest judge 'Strictly'". Digital Spy . 20 October 2011.
  11. "Strictly Come Dancing final watched by 14 million". The Guardian. Press Association. 23 December 2012.