TV presenter Marvin Humes has shared his thoughts on JLS bandmate JB Gill's stint on Strictly Come Dancing.
JB, 37, is among the contestants on the latest series of the BBC show. He's topped the leaderboard on three occasions over the course of the previous eight weeks of the dance contest and is set to perform in Blackpool later this week.
Among those supporting the former X Factor contestant is his pal Marvin, 39. The pair, who have known each other for more than 15 years now, continue to be bandmates in JLS along with Aston Merrygold, 36, and Oritsé Williams, 37.
Marvin spoke to the Mirror about his pal this week whilst promoting Fairy Non Bio's Loads Of Kindness campaign. He praised that JB is "smashing it" on Strictly but warned that his fate is uncertain because the show is "unpredictable".
Speaking about JB's time on Strictly, Marvin told us: "He's absolutely killing it. He's smashing it." He added: "I knew that J would do well. J is such a great person, great dancer, great artist and y'know he's my brother so super proud of him."
The Hit List host continued: "The whole family can sit down and watch the show. All of my kids love Strictly so for them to see their uncle on there is amazing and he's doing so well. I'm pleased he's made Blackpool this weekend."
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instagram/@jbgill)Image:
Instagram)Asked if he believes JB has what it takes to reach the final, Marvin said: "Absolutely. 100 million percent." He however then recalled their bandmate Aston's controversial exit from Strictly seven years ago when he was a contestant.
Aston, who was partnered with Janette Manrara, was voted off the show in the middle of the contest back in 2017, after ending up in a dance-off against Mollie King, despite having been a favourite to win. He became the sixth celebrity to leave Strictly that year and his departure was described at the time as "potentially the biggest shock in the show's entire history".
Whilst addressing whether JB could reach the final, Marvin said: "Look, listen, as we saw with Aston, you just don't know with the show - it's unpredictable. Y'know Aston should have won [his series] but it didn't quite go that way and that was through no fault of his own. He got sent home by one of the judges so sometimes it is out of your hands."
JB - who was initially partnered with Amy Dowden, but is now dancing with Lauren Oakley - has already made it through one-dance. The judges unanimously choice to save JB over football pundit Paul Merson in the fifth week.
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Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)Although it's yet to be revealed if JB will make it through to the tenth week, Marvin said: "[He's] doing so well. If he was to leave this Saturday he can leave with his head held high. If he makes it through to the final, equally y'know he will have his head held just as high. He's done his friends, family and everyone so proud. Really, really happy for him."
During the interview, Marvin - who competed on I'm A Celebrity last year - dismissed the idea of taking on Strictly himself in the near future. He said: "I don't think I could follow in JB's footsteps now. I think him and Aston have set the bar so high. I don't think I could do it. Listen, I did the jungle - so that's my reality TV fix for a few years at least."
Marvin is an ambassador for Fairy Non Bio's newly-launched #LoadsOfKindness campaign and spoke to us ahead of World Kindness Day on Tuesday. The campaign, in partnership with the new film Paddington in Peru, encourages people to pledge acts of kindness on social media.
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PA/Dave Parry)"In this day and age, in this world that we live in, it's so easy for people to not be kind and say mean things," he said. Marvin - who helped launch the campaign at an event at Outernet in the London recently - added: "Let's look at what changes people's lives ... in terms of the smallest things; like holding a door open for someone, a stranger that you don't know, or offering your seat on public transport. Or helping that elderly neighbour out that you know lives by themself next door or a couple of doors down the road."
Further discussing acts of kindness, he shared: "One of things that I spoke about [at the launch] was checking in with an old friend every day - not the same friend, a different friend every day. Because we don't do enough of that."
The KISS radio host continued: "It's such a simple thing and as a parent, I teach that to my children. Like, if you can be anything in this world, just be kind. That's all it takes and it's really not a big thing. [...] It starts with children and it works its way up. I'll be honest, there's a lot of adults in this world that need to be reminded about kindness."
He went on to suggest that Paddington embodies kindness. Marvin said: "Our whole family loves Paddington." He added: "His saying is 'if you're kind and polite, then the world will be right'. What a lovely thing for our children to see and hear."
Fairy Non Bio has teamed up with Paddington in Peru to celebrate kindness across the UK. Pledge your own act of kindness on social media using #LoadsOfKindness.
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