Former Xtra Factor presenter Melvin Odoom has credited his old boss Simon Cowell with his appearance on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Odoom hosted The X Factor spin-off show with Rochelle Humes but resigned after just one series before they were replaced with Rylan Clark-Neal and Matt Edmondson.

The radio DJ said he does not see it as switching sides in the ratings battle between the two shows, but said: “I hope the X Factor lot watch and vote.

“Simon gave me the opportunity to do Xtra Factor and if he didn’t I probably couldn’t be doing this.”

Odoom, who once taught street dance at a youth club, said he is feeling competitive with the other celebrity contestants ahead of the series launch.

He said: “Everyone is competitive. At first I thought it was chilled out but everyone is taking it seriously.”

His professional dance partner will be revealed in Saturday night’s launch show and Odoom confessed he has his eye on someone.

The diminutive presenter joked: “I’m hoping to get the tallest dancer, so she can carry me.”