THEY are two of the most popular dancers ever to appear on Strictly and now James and Ola Jordan are preparing to share their story with fans across the country.

James and Ola: Uncensored will visit theatres across the UK in the spring and the couple are determined to make it the most personal show they can.

“We have been asked to do a touring show lots of times,” said Ola, “but there was always someone trying to tell us what dances to do or what music to use.

“But we want to tell our story our way and now we’ve got the chance to do that. We are just so excited.”

The couple’s story almost reads like a film script. Both were junior champions, James in England and Ola in Poland. James saw footage of Ola dancing and flew over to Poland when he was searching for a new dance partner.

Aged 17 she came to live in England, even though she didn’t speak a word of English, and the rest as they say is history. They became a hugely successful dance partnership and fell in love, marrying in 2003.

“I suppose it is the story of our romance,” said James. “We were best mates before we started dating and she’s still my best friend as well as my wife.”

Together they form a formidable and funny double act, often making each other laugh during our conversation.

Given that both have a reputation for being fairly outspoken - James appeared in Celebrity Big Brother and Ola had a spell in the jungle in I’m a Celebrity - who, I wondered would be in charge when it comes to the tour?

“That’s a good question,” laughed Ola. “But I think we have always worked quite well together from day one. I won’t say we never argue because we do.”

“And we will,” chips in James.

“But that’s part of it,” said Ola. “That’s part of getting the best ideas together and making it work.”

“We know how each other of us works,” said James. “We can separate our private lives and our work lives. If we argue in the studio, we don’t take that home with us. It’s forgotten about within five minutes. We don’t hold grudges with each other.”

The show, which takes to the road in March is still a work in progress but they have very firm ideas of what they want.

“Each song and each dance is going to mean something,” said James. “We are telling our life story on stage through dance, so it will be a little bit more involved than a traditional dance show.

“We’re finding it fascinating and I think it will make it more of an emotional tour for us. Also it’s going to be an amazing thing to be dancing together again. I’ve not danced with Ola for four years now.”

James left Strictly in 2013 and Ola two years later but fully appreciate the impact the show has had.

“It’s a fantastic juggernaut of a show which has changed people’s perceptions of dance,” said James. “When I was growing up as a young boy, dancing wasn’t exactly the coolest thing you could do. But now everybody loves Strictly. It has been great for our business.”

So would either of them be persuaded to return to the show?

“Oh, I’d love to be a judge,” said James, “but I think I might be a bit too honest. I don’t think the BBC will be ringing me any time soon.”

James has never been afraid to speak his mind, he would challenge the judges when he thought they had been unfair on Strictly and during his time in the Big Brother House he wasn’t exactly the shy, retiring type.

“I think a lot of people try to be something they think other people want them to be instead of being true to themselves,” he said. “If there’s something I disagree with I’m quite happy standing up and speaking for what I believe in. I think some people see that as being obnoxious. I’m not obnoxious, I’m just very very honest.”

That honesty will be reflected in the new show.

“On this tour we want to show people what we are about,” said James, “We want the audience to experience a full rollercoaster of emotions.

“It’s just such an exciting idea, being able to revisit our own story and bringing back memories.

“It will show what we were like when we were younger. It’s hard to believe I know but I was a bit of a tearaway when I was younger whereas Ola was this really sweet innocent thing which I slightly corrupted.”

Giggling, Ola adds: “When people leave the show at the end we just want them to know us a little better.”

James and Ola: Uncensored, Blackpool Opera House, Saturday, March 3 and Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Sunday, March 11. Tickets from www.ticketmaster.co.uk