With a combined age of 243 years, they joke that they’re “well past their sell-by date.” But James Jordan and his gang of Strictly Legends are still defying nature – and themselves – with their high-octane dance routines.

With tickets on sale now for their new show Vegas: After Hours, he tells JULIA KUTTNER how they’re keeping the magic alive…

A live dance tour is a gruelling prospect for any performer – but at least James Jordan has decades of experience.

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The 47-year-old will hit the road again this October with fellow dance heavyweights Ian Waite, 55, Brendan Cole, 49, Vincent Simone, 46, and Pasha Kovalev, 46. And despite their mature years, he says they’re still “creating something brilliant.”

The ‘vintage’ boys are bringing back their live touring spectacular Legends of the Dancefloor for a third dynamic run, this time with a glitzy Las Vegas theme. Think Rat Pack swagger, incredible moves and a few cheeky secrets from behind the Strictly Come Dancing curtain thrown in for good measure.

“I’m going be honest,” says James. “I knew it was going to be good, but it’s exceeded my expectations. Part of that is because we all get on well.

“We do push the boundaries a little bit and say things that are a little bit tongue in cheek and a little bit naughty, let out a few secrets from Strictly and take the mickey out of each other, and we back that up by great dancing.”

In fact, he says, it’s the friendship between the BBC alumni that’s the key to their winning formula.

He explains: “They all bring something totally different to the show. They’re all totally different characters and personalities, but it just seems to work. We’ve all known each other for many, many years.”

The Legends Of The Dancefloor team know their audience too – they’re die-hard fans of the glitterball, who love a backstage tale from Strictly Come Dancing as much as a dazzling jive.

Last year former co-star Anton Du Beke was the butt of a few warm-hearted jokes. And they’ve had some impressive fan support in the crowd, including the TV show’s head judge Shirley Ballas.

“I used to have lessons with Shirley back in the day and in my opinion she’s just one of the best female dancers in the business, very supportive in the dance world too. I think she’s a great head judge and a strong independent woman.

“I saw her jump up on her feet clapping and that means a lot you know, someone that you respect so much.”

James left Strictly in 2013 and says the continued support he gets proves the pulling power of the BBC Saturday night juggernaut. But he believes the tone of the show has shifted over the years.

“I would say Strictly has gone more raunchy,” he says. “I think they do more stuff now that we wouldn’t have got away with back in our day. I think that’s a good thing. It’s still dance, I still look at it as art.

“Back in the day they were quite brutal, which I liked because at the end you know it’s a dance show and you sometimes want to have that judge that is really harsh. They are a lot more politically correct now.”

Never one to mince his words, he’s quick to weigh in on who should replace departing hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. And like many fans, he’s put Zoe Ball at the top of his list.

Zoe was one of the superfans who went to see last year’s Legends tour, along with former judge and choreographer Dame Arlene Phillips.

James says: “If I was running the show I would have Zoe in Claudia’s position. She’s a wonderfully warm, kind, caring individual and I feel you need that warmth with the contestants. She’d be a perfect fit for that role.”

Asked if he or any of his Legends would be keen to fill one of the two vacancies – despite them clashing with tour dates – James laughs: “Well I imagine we would’ve heard by now.”

Like millions at home, he still watches Strictly religiously alongside his six-year-old daughter Ella.

“I do have my favourites of course,” he says. “It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best dancer. I normally like the people that move me in a way, whether that’s because they’re non-trained dancers, the connection between the couple or the way they are on the floor, their personality, character, their journey – I hate saying that word but the journey.”

Off stage, it’s all about fitness and preparation. James admits when the tour first launched in 2024, he “hadn’t been on stage for over 12 years” and struggled to pick up the choreography.

He adds: “I did panic a lot. I remember in the rehearsal room many times I had to go out. I couldn’t even get to the end of the jive.

“I was dripping with sweat in comparison to everyone else. I had to keep saying sorry to my poor partner and I was taking four different changes of a T-shirt with me to practice.

“But I feel like I’ve got myself in probably the best shape I’ve ever been in my life at the moment. It’s kind of given me a little bit of a new lease of life and it’s made me realise you can still push yourself.”

And if anyone needs proof that age really is just a number, he points to 55-year-old Ian. “He’s in such incredible shape,” James adds. “I thought if he can do it, I can do it too. I’ve just got to put the work in.”

• The 30-date tour starts on October 3 in Fareham, and will weave its way across the UK before ending in Cardiff on 8 ^th November.
• Tickets are on sale now, available from the venues, Ticketmaster and via www.legendsofthedancefloor.com