The 2016 series launch kicked off with record audience figures and drew in an average of 9.3 million and peaked at over 10 million.
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Jordan – who quit the BBC ballroom show in 2013 – made the claims during Saturday night’s launch show which saw Will Young paired with Karen Clifton and Louise Redknapp partnered with Kevin Clifton.
On Saturday Winkleman said: “I’m incredibly sad about leaving the film show and it wasn’t an easy decision”.
The first show last night saw Mr Balls join a group dance in which he shimmied around the famous stage and did a “shoulder-shake” move with all the other contestants.
Irish presenter Laura’s Strictly partner, Italian dancer Giovanni, has just come out of a relationship with Georgia May Foote – with the actress having recently announced their split on Twitter.
Model Lowe is with Skorjanec, who won Strictly with model Abbey Clancy in 2013.
Both shows continue next week on BBC and ITV.
And a Strictly insider told the newspaper: “Here we go again”.
But back to James’ tweets, and as the 2016 Strictly Come Dancing series opener aired, he wrote, “Will young has also had lots of dance experience….”
The 14th series of the ballroom dancing show, which beat The X Factor in the ratings past year, goes live in three weeks.
Strictly Come Dancing’s co-host succeeded Jonathan Ross on the revamped BBC1 film programme in 2010, alongside film critic Danny Leigh.
ITV said the figures are up year on year – the third episode last year was watched by 7.7 million (35.3% share).
Many claimed his dancing prowess on Saturday night’s show offered the flawless antidote to the UK’s turbulent political climate which has been marred by months of instability and in-fighting across the party spectrum.
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ITV denied the The X Factor was suffering and said the episode’s figures are up year-on-year – the same episode last year was watched by 7.7 million.
