JLS star turned farmer, JB Gill, has been dazzling audiences on Strictly Come Dancing, but away from the glitz and glamour, he's all about the farm life. When he's not perfecting his dance moves, JB is busy with his turkeys and filming for Channel 5’s Winter On The Farm alongside co-hosts Helen Skelton and Jules Hudson. It's not only JB with a busy schedule, as he and his wife Chloe reveal their children, Ace and Chiara are shaping up to be "little performers." The two already have their own IMDB page having featured in BBC psychological thriller, Chloe.
This festive season marks a significant milestone for JB as he celebrates ten years of turkey farming. "It’s our tenth year of turkeys, which is unbelievable," JB shared excitedly. He's looking forward to wrapping up his Strictly stint and getting back to farm duties: "It’s definitely a cause to celebrate. When I finish Strictly, I’ll be straight into the turkeys, and then at Christmas, we get to have a chill and a break and spend some time with the family, but this is going to be a big year for us and for the farm."
Despite his love for farming, JB acknowledges the challenges it brings. "There’s always something you can learn and every single year is different," he reflects. "We’ve had some years where the weather’s been terrible, we’ve had some years where the weather’s been amazing. You always learn something."
JB is on a mission to educate viewers about the importance of UK food production through his show. "There’s not a lot of people making a lot of noise about farming," JB points out, adding that shows like this are crucial for understanding the value of farms.
He emphasises that only a small number of farmers, growers and producers are providing the food our nation needs to survive, something people often overlook. "During lockdown we experienced shortages. It’s easy to lose sight of just how important those people are."
Viewers will join JB as he visits London’s only large-scale commercial vineyard, Forty Hall Farm, in Enfield, an area he knows well. "My little boy Ace plays football for Tottenham Hotspur Academy, which is just around the corner from Forty Hall Farm, so I was surprised to find that it was there," he shares.
"Not only is it local, it’s producing some award-winning wine, and it also has all its profits fed back into community-based operations, mental health projects and wellbeing projects."
The show will also follow Nicholson brothers Rob and Dave as they journey to beautiful Finland to discover its unique farming practices. "It’s a massive celebration of the year and some of the things that are going on on the farm at that time, and also obviously a nod to Christmas and that special family time," JB explains.
If farming is a challenge, so is Strictly. JB initially danced with Amy Dowden, who had made a comeback to the show after battling breast cancer. However, when an injury forced Amy to step down, Lauren Oakley stepped in as his new partner.
"Lauren’s been amazing," gushes JB. "It has been an adjustment getting used to different teaching styles with a different dancer, but she’s amazing."
While Lauren may be his current dance partner, JB shares that he and Amy have remained close friends. "She messaged this morning just to find out how things are going," reveals JB. "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."
He credits Amy for playing a significant role in his growth as a dancer and his understanding of ballroom dancing. "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."
JB's family, including wife Chloe and their children Ace, 10, and Chiara, six, are rooting for him to reach the finals. Chloe shares that their kids, who are showing signs of being "little performers", watch their dad each week, cheering him on enthusiastically. "We're a very competitive family, so they've got to make sure that he's towards the top and they're quite happy. When he's been getting some 10s, there's been a lot of shouting and cheering," she says.
And it looks like the pair are already following in their father's showbiz footsteps. "Ace loves his football and he does quite a lot of acting and Chiara loves dancing and gymnastics, so I think they’ll be involved in the arts in the future."
The Gill clan is showing no signs of taking a break. JB is all set to launch his second Wacky Weather Mystery kids' book in 2025, plus the whole gang is gearing up for another round of their Channel 5 Milkshake! series, Cooking With The Gills, featuring the budding stars. A beaming JB and Chloe shared, "It’s just been announced that we’re doing a second series," and added, "We can’t wait for lots more fun!"
