Former Strictly Come Dancing pro James Jordan has exposed how bosses dropped professional dancers midway through the live tour, as they were simply told "you're not coming back". In a new interview with The Sun, James explained: "I've seen it happen to many of my friends on the show when I was on there, that all of a sudden they get told 'you're not coming back to the show' and it's not until June.

"So you've kept your diary free August, September, October, November, December, but you get told in June you're not coming back and that's quite a hit in the balls, you know what I mean? It's like, 'wow, okay'".

A particularly brutal moment happened during a UK tour of Strictly: The Professionals, when he said four pro dancers were sacked from the BBC TV series but had to finish their run of stage shows.

He said: "I did really feel sorry for my friends that they've just been told they're not coming back to the show and then crack on with the rest of the tour. Lovely."

James admitted it's easy to see why people "struggle" after getting axed.

It comes after James revealed exclusively to the Express who the four presenters he wants to be in line for the Strictly hosting gig are.

James said: "I would like to see Bradley Walsh, Vernon Kay, and either Alex Jones or Zoe Ball. They are the four people who would be on my list if I had a wish list."

He added: "I love Holly [Willoughby], she's lovely, but I don't see it myself, maybe because she's so synonymous with Dancing on Ice, which is kind of a rival show.

"I do feel it should go back to a male presenter and a female presenter. That's just my feeling. I like the dynamic of it, so for me personally, I'd like to see a man and a woman."