Wirral dancer lands key role on Turkish version of tv talent show The Voice

Jan 11 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

A WIRRAL dancer has landed a key role on the Turkish version of smash hit TV talent show The Voice.

James Wilson, from Caldy, has spent the last two winters in Istanbul starring as a professional dancer in Yok Böyle Dans – Strictly Come Dancing to UK fans.

During the latest run he was asked to dance with supermodel Adriana Lima.

After visiting his family in Wirral at Christmas he has now returned to Turkey after being offered the job of head choreographer on O Ses Turkiye – the country’s version of The Voice.

The Voice, which sees judges picking contestants through blind auditions, has been sold to television networks worldwide after it was a big hit with American audiences.

The UK version, hosted by Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates, will start in the spring.

The 28-year-old, who trained at Merrall’s Dance Academy and with Margaret Redmond, said: “I’m a bit nervous but it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.

“I’ll be in charge of everything to do with dance on the show and I get to choose my dancers and work on routines.

“It’s a really good show. We were the biggest in Turkey and then The Voice came along and we went down to number two! You can’t go wrong with a format like that.”

Despite James and his partner being voted off Yok Böyle Dans before Christmas, he continued to appear in professional dances on the show until its grand final this week.

He was invited to take part in the show by former Strictly Come Dancing dancer Lilia Kopylova, who worked with him on West End stage show Latin Fever.

Last year he and singer Burcu Günes, made it down to the last nine couples despite the challenge of her speaking barely any English.

This time – and with more Turkish under his belt – he and partner Ozlem Yildiz, a model-turned-television presenter, lasted seven weeks before they were voted out.

During the show’s latest run James was also chosen to partner Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima for a special one-off performance.

He was flown to the USA for three days for rehearsals with the Brazilian beauty.

James said: “They asked her to do a guest spot and also be a judge for the first show and they needed someone to teach her to dance.

“It was absolutely incredible – we danced the Lambada and she was just the most beautiful person .

“She took to it like a duck to water and she was really keen and excited about it.”

He added: “I speak more Turkish compared to last year so that has made it easier.

“It’s frustrating not being able to tell the person you’re dancing with what you want from them.

“Now I know bits and pieces and I can understand the language better.

“Hopefully I’ll be back next year. It means being away from home for a long period of time and it’s such a culturally different place but I love being part of the show and the excitement that surrounds it.”