JJ Chalmers: Strictly Come Dancing star addresses difficulty ’None of the things work’

JJ Chalmers, 33, has won praise for his dancing ability on the current season of Strictly Come Dancing, however, the Paralympian has divulged that despite being able to keep all his limbs minus a “couple of fingers” he struggles with mobility. The former Royal Marine and friend of Prince Harry was badly injured when he was caught up in a bomb blast while serving in Afghanistan.

JJ is now competing on Strictly alongside partner Amy Dowden, and gave insight into how he hopes dancing will help improve his injuries in the long term.

He said: “I was very fortunate to be able to keep more or less all my body parts except for a couple of fingers, but none of the things work the way they should.

“But I’m hoping that there are not many better forms of exercise and activity than dancing for improving your overall body posture, your overall body fitness and mobility.

“I’m hoping I’ll be as fit as I ever have been after this process,” he added to TV Archive.

In the explosion that occurred back in 2011, JJ was left with life-changing injuries after standing on an IED device.

“Every part of my body had sustained some sort of damage,” he told Express.co.uk

“My legs were torn open, my face was crushed, my neck was broken, my arms were pretty well torn off.”

JJ recalled the exact moment before the blast and the last thoughts from his old life.

He continued: “What I remember is that I was standing, completely normally, talking to a friend, going about my daily business.

“Then a split second later I was on my back in the worst pain I had ever experienced.”