Dev Griffin believes a thick skin developed through years on radio will help him face the Strictly Come Dancing judges.

The DJ for BBC Radio 1 said he has endured far worse in his day job than he could suffer at the hands of the judging panel.

Griffin said a five-page invective from a listener could not be matched by the likes of Craig Revel Horwood.

Strictly Come Dancing 2019
Griffin with his dance partner Diane Buswell (Ray Burmiston/BBC)

The DJ said: “I’ve been on national radio since I was 17 years old. There is nothing they can say to me.

“Trust me, people have said meaner things.

“I’ve had five-page emails from listeners that are definitely worse.

“I’ve had to grow an incredibly thick skin doing live national radio. It’s prepared me for some of the judges’ worst, I think.”

Griffin is dancing with professional Dianne Buswell, who has been showing boyfriend and former partner Joe Sugg footage of their training.

She said: “He felt weird at the start but now he’s really enjoying watching Dev and I progress.

“He’s like ‘oh wow, he’s really good’. I think he’s really excited to not have the nerves this year.”