Did you know these things about Danny?
If you’re a fan of Death in Paradise, you’ll know Danny John-Jules.
He starred in the BBC series since its debut in 2011, and left the show in 2018, but in March this year, rumours began flying that Danny John-Jules’ character, policeman Dwayne Myers, might be returning to the show.
The rumours were true! Danny will make his comeback in this evening’s episode. But how well do you know the actor, singer and dancer from Paddington and his whirlwind career and personal life?
We’ve got you. My London takes a look at the incredible life of Danny John-Jules.
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Family Life
Born 16 September 1960, Danny was brought up in Notting Hill, London and attended Rutherford School in Paddington. The 60-year-old now has two children with his wife Petula Langlais, and the two still live in Paddington.
Danny’s parents are both from Dominica, having moved to England on the HMT Empire Windrush. Barristers run in his family; his mother, as well as his brother, both work in the courts.
But that’s not all his family is known for. One of Danny’s nephews, Tyreece John-Jules, is a well-known Arsenal footballer.
Currently Tyreece is on loan from the Premier League club, and is a striker for South Yorkshire’s Doncaster Rovers. He recently won the Sky Goal of the Month for League One.
Dancing with George Michael
Danny is well known for his starring roles on both the BBC and CBBC, and on the stage.
90s kids might remember him as the cheerful caretaker in children’s spy drama series M.I.High, which followed a group of undercover teenage spies working for MI9.
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But before his television fame, Danny made an appearance in an unexpected music video.
In 1986, at 26, he was featured in the black-and-white music video for The Edge of Heaven, the hit song by British pop duo Wham!
During the video, Danny jumps on stage with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley and dances with them, after George grabs him from the crowd.
Starring role in Red Dwarf
Danny starred in BBC2’s hilarious science fiction comedy Red Dwarf, which premiered in 1998. In 2009, the show had a revival on comedy channel Dave.
The show developed a cult following, who know Danny for his performance as the wacky lead character Cat. He stars in the show alongside Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Robert Llewellyn and Norman Lovett.
Earlier this year, Digital Spy reported that Danny had opened up about his exit from Death in Paradise, saying that his role in Red Dwarf was the main reason behind his departure.
The actor said: “I was very loyal to Death in Paradise, I lasted three detectives.
“As Tony Jordan said, I was the cement in the wall. It was one of the greatest successes I’d ever had. [To] have another show that was as successful as that, I couldn’t ask for anything more.
“But the draw the Red Dwarf is more powerful than the draw for Death in Paradise. It’s like going home.”
His stint on Strictly
Danny could never let himself be known just for acting. His triad of talents took him all the way to the nation’s favourite dancing show, Strictly Come Dancing, where he participated in the 2018 series and made it to week seven.
In 2020, Danny addressed rumours which had been flying about a behind-the-scenes feud he had with dance partner Amy Dowden.
As Hello reports, it had been said that the star had a series if arguments with Amy and members of the production team.
But Danny denied there was ever a fight. He said: “There was no fight. There was one difference of opinion in six weeks.”
The actor and dancer explained that he did feel he didn’t have a fair fight on the week of his elimination, as his partner Amy had an injury that wasn’t shown on screen.
He said: “For two weeks I wasn’t even dancing with my partner until the night… the week that I made the mistake and everyone came down like a ton of bricks, the judges knew that I hadn’t danced with my partner that week.”
But he did point out that his life-long performing career geared him up well for the show.
He laughed: “The numbers on Strictly are a minute and a half. The finale in Catsis ten minutes long and that’s before you get to the solo in the second act. So a minute and a half? Come on, man!”
Who else can’t wait to see what Danny brings back to the show this evening?
