Strictly's JB Gill shares biggest 'challenge' just days before semi-final

Strictly Come Dancing favourite JB Gill has opened up about the "challenge" he's faced on the dance floor.

The JLS heartthrob has had quite the journey on Strictly, after his original partner Amy Dowden had to step down due to an injury. In a twist of fate, Lauren Oakley stepped in to fill Amy's dancing shoes - initially for one week - but then took over the role permanently.

Amy and JB were a dynamic duo from the start, as Amy made her triumphant full-time return to Strictly following her battle with cancer. Unfortunately, an injured foot forced her to withdraw.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain today, JB shared: "It's going really really well. It's a massive change and a massive shift, especially when you're working with one person continuously and you work things out and then you've got a system in place. So to change that was a challenge. But it's been amazing. It's a different style of learning and working together."

Ed Balls, the show's host, quizzed JB on who was the tougher teacher between his two partners, and the answer might come as a surprise, reports the Mirror.

"They're both pretty tough - but it's me," JB confessed, with Lauren chiming in: "He says I want to do it again. Sometimes it's the other way around, I'm like again?" JB added: "Both of them were very good to say give it five minutes, let it settle and then we can go again."

Even though Amy is no longer part of this series, the bond between her and JB remains unbroken, with the pair continuing their friendship off the dance floor.

He confided to The Mirror: "She messaged this morning just to find out how things are going. We've been in touch pretty much every day for the last couple of weeks, just talking about the routine, and offering advice where she can. Amy's played a massive role in my development as a dancer and my understanding and knowledge when it comes to ballroom dancing. The transition's not been easy, but the show must go on. The main thing really is for her to rest and get better."

Last week, JB and Lauren stunned the audience with their Viennese Waltz to Mary Poppins' 'Let's Go Fly A Kite', soaring to the top of the leaderboard. The pair dazzled with an almost perfect score, clinching 39 points, while resident judge Anton du Beke lauded their performance as "practically perfect in every possible way" and heralded it as "the best dance of the night".

*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.