Strictly couples who found love on dance floor - and those still going strong
Strictly fever is once again gripping the UK as the hit show returns to the BBC tonight. The celebs have been chosen and given their professional partners and all have an eye on getting their hands on the coveted Glitterball trophy.
Millions tune in to watch the stars perform every week - and almost as important as the quality of the dance steps is the chemistry between the celeb and their pro partner. And in lots of cases this passion has been so steamy it's spilled over into real life with Strictly spawning many couples. Let's take a look at the Strictly Come Dancing couples that are still dancing to the same tune...
Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez
Gemma and Gorka have two children together (Instagram)
Gemma and Gorka weren't partners on the show (Getty Images)Former Hollyoaks actor and radio presenter Gemma Atkinson, 38, met her fiancée Gorka Marquez, 33, while competing on the 2017 series of Strictly. However, unlike many of the romances that have blossomed on the hit show the couple were not actually dance partners. Spanish champ Gorka was partnered with singer Alexandra Burke and Gemma hit the floor with Aljaž Skorjane but this didn’t stop sparks flying backstage. Although they initially shut down rumours of romance the pair spent New Year's Eve together in the gym, and on Valentine’s Day the following year they confirmed they were dating with an adorable snap on Instagram of them sitting side by side, which Gemma captioned, “Here's to many more kid. Happy Valentine’s Day.” Since then the couple have gone from strength to strength. Gorka popped the question in 2021, and they have two children, Mia, four, and a boy born in July.
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton
Stacey and Kevin won the Glitterball Trophy and each other's affection (BBC / Guy Levy)
Stacey and her baby daughter Minnie (Instagram/ @keviclifton)Journalist Stacey Dooley, 36, won the Glitterball Trophy back in 2018, and she also won her dance partner Kevin Clifton's heart. Stacey was in a relationship when she appeared on Strictly five years ago and was dating personal trainer Sam Tucknott.
Sadly, Sam did not take their relationship ending well and slammed Kevin for refusing to meet with him for closure’s sake. The personal trainer told The Sun at the time, "He went white. I just stuck it on him, 'You’re an absolute rat, how you conducted yourself. Just a slippery, slimy snake'. He didn’t say a word, he looked petrified, so shocked. I have no respect for Kevin whatsoever. He comes out and says it’s all 'strictly business'. He’s a full-on p***k. I’ve tried to meet him since to get closure but he won’t do it."
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Wounded exes aside, Stacey and Kevin’s relationship has stood the test of time and they are still very happy together. The pair are doting parents to daughter Minnie, who was born in January, but according to Stacey a wedding is not on the cards. "Marriage has never been massively important to me," Stacey told The Sun. "It's just never been something I've dreamt about. But I couldn't have done this (motherhood) without Kev. It's weird. I've always loved him, but it's a different love I have for Kev now."
Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
Rachel and Pasha fell for each other on the BBC dance show (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
The couple have been going strong for 10 years (Getty Images) Countdown star Rachel Riley, 37, met Pasha Kovalev, 43, when they were paired together on Strictly in 2013, and the Russian dancer clearly swept her off her feet. The mathematics graduate ended her 16-month marriage to James Gilbert after she was eliminated from the show, and went public with Pasha the following year. The duo married in Las Vegas in 2019, and Rachel gave birth to their first child Maven Aria later that year. In 2021 they welcomed a second daughter Noa, and after a decade are still going strong.
Rachel recently opened up about how the pair try to make time for each other amid childcare and busy work schedules. “When you've been together the best part of a decade and you can see a future of how ever many more decades that you get together, it kind of changes your perspective,” she told The Sun. "It's nice to have date nights especially as we can be ships that pass in the night, especially when you have kids as well.'
Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell
Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell are still loved up after meeting on StrictlyYoutuber Joe Sugg, 32, didn’t fancy himself as much of a dancer when before he took to the Strictly floor in 2018. In fact he told the BBC at the time: “My mates would describe my dancing as... very wooden. Yeah, they haven't got a lot of faith in me.” However, flame haired Aussie dancer Dianne Buswell, 34, clearly made him concentrate on his moves, and she and Joe made it all the way to the final - and fell very much in love. After losing out on the Glitterball Trophy Joe tweeted to his many followers: "I may not have won the glitter ball, but I’ve won something a million times more special” - and it seems they are in it for the long haul.
Joe and Dianne brought a new property together this summer, with Joe revealing to his social media followers, “We found this place, we absolutely fell in love with it.” Although there are no rings on fingers as yet, Dianne explained in a recent Instagram video that the pair would like to have children. "We love being aunt and uncle for our beautiful nieces and nephew for now, but yes one day we would love it," she said.
Flavia Cacace and Jimi Mistry
Strictlys Flavia and actor husband Jimi Mistry quit fame to run a farm in North DevonItalian dancer Flavia Cacace, 43, was paired with actor Jimi Mistry, 50, on Strictly in 2010, fell in love and were married three years later. Aside from obvious chemistry the pair also both shared a yearning for a simpler life away from the spotlight. In 2013, Flavia left Strictly to "pursue other opportunities" while Jimi retired from acting in 2020. Then happy couple swapped the sequins for wellies, quit showbiz and upped sticks to move to a small farm in Devon.
On their website they explain the decision, writing: "Many people ask why we decided to move to Devon and live on a smallholding. Well, that’s the million-dollar question. Even though for many people it may seem a world away from the bright lights of stage and screen, to us it was a natural and easy decision to make. We both had worked extensively in the entertainment industry for over 20+ years and although we had experienced a lot of success in our respective careers we both knew that one day we wanted a different quality of life.” The couple, who have no children together, have an Instagram account called @ourlifeatthebarn which showcases the produce they grow, the chickens they keep and the enviably wholesome life they lead.
Max George and Maisie Smith
Maisie and Max have moved in together (instagram/ @maisiesmithofficial)The Wanted singer Max George, 35, and former EastEnders star Maisie Smith, 22, met on the set of the BBC dancing contest in 2020. Although the couple, who have a 13-year age gap, started as friends it was actually on the Strictly arena tour in 2022 when they feel in love. The couple were soon spotted spending the summer on romantic holidays and they finally went public with their relationship on Instagram when Max shared a message of support for Maisie after she debuted on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, dubbing the actress his “winner already.” The couple are often the target of trolls owing to their large age gap, and Maisie has previously said to The Sun, that “you have to have a thick skin.” However, she went on to add that her mum’s advice was: "Just ignore them, you two were made for each other."
Maisie moved out of her family home earlier this year to move in with Max in Manchester, and they spent the first month enjoying their freedom. “Me and Max sat at home doing nothing for a month straight. I felt like I deserved it, I’ve had a physically intense job. We both agreed to chill and take our mind off everything and enjoy moving in together," Maisie told The Mirror. "It’s such a big chapter in a relationship and it was the first time we’ve been together where I haven’t been on tour, so we barely left the house.”
Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff
Rugby star Ben and dancer Kristina are now engaged (krihanoff/Instagram)
The couple have been together for nine years (PA)Former Rugby star Ben Cohen, 45, fell in love with the Russian dancer Kristina Rihanoff, also 45, after they competed on Strictly together in 2013. However, Ben was actually married at the time. Initially Kristina had claimed that Ben’s 11-year marriage to wife Abby finished months before their romance began.
Abby was clearly not in support of this narrative and tagged the dancer in an angry tweet on Twitter. She wrote, “@KRihanoff there you go my lovely…..," alongside the post, which read: "You may be powerful today. But remember time is more powerful than you. One tree makes a million matchsticks, only one matchstick is needed to burn a million trees.”
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Despite the rocky start, Ben and Kristina got engaged in the Maldives last year and share six-year-old daughter Mila. They are currently planning a lavish wedding, and Ben recently revealed that tough times has made the couple stronger. “Over the last nine years we've been through the wringer,” he told Hello! magazine. “To support each other through difficult times in business is the ultimate test in a relationship. I've watched her flourish, from her becoming a mum to growing as a businesswoman, and it has strengthened our bond.”
Tyler West and Molly Rainford
Strictly's Molly and Tyler frequently post on social media from exotic locations (INSTAGRAM /)There were many rumours swirling around EastEnders' star Molly Rainford, 22, and radio host Tyler West, 27, on last year's Strictly Come Dancing. The celebs tried their best to keep the romance under wraps with Tyler telling the Mirror, "We were just mates standing outside getting cabs. And then rumours started circulating. It’s always gonna happen if you're single on this show." However, by this summer Tyler - who was partnered with dancer Dianne Buswell on the show - was ready to gush about his girlfriend, telling The Evening Standard, “Mols is wicked! She’s amazing, man. She’s my world, [and] my best friend. It feels great that I’ve gone through an experience like [Strictly] with her and come out the other side." The young lovers frequently post videos and pictures to social media of their adventures and sun-drenched holidays - and we are sure this won't stop any time soon.
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