Strictly 'curse victims' who split with partners to find love with dance pros
Strictly Come Dancing 2023 returns for the final time this weekend, and will see the last three celeb-pro pairings give it their all on the dance floor in the hope of lifting the much-coveted Glitterball Trophy.
While many celebs walk away from the experience with new-found toe-tapping ability, toned muscles and a strong friendship with their Strictly pro partner, it has been over 19 years since the show has aired too, and many have found love during their stint. Take this year, Coronation Street star Ellie Leach and her partner Vito Coppola have been sparking rumours since day one with their clear chemistry and gushing tributes to one another.
Although Ellie and Vito are both single, there have been many pairings throughout the Strictly seasons who have been on the receiving end of scandal, by way of the ’Strictly curse’. This is the phenomenon that sees celebrities and their dance partners on the hit BBC show become romantically involved to the detriment of their off-screen relationships. Let's take a look at some of the couples who found love on the show after splitting with their partners.
Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole
Brendan split from his wife while dancing with Natasha (BBC)
Newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, 51, was partnered with professional dancer Brendan Cole, 47, on the first ever series of Strictly in 2004. There was clear chemistry between the pair, which both denied, however the rumours led to the breakdown of New Zealander Brendan’s marriage to his fiancée Camilla Dallerup, who was also a professional on the show. However, Brendan was adamant that he did not cheat on his ex but did hint at something happening with Natasha. "The chemistry was there, plain for all to see. I didn't have an affair. Camilla chose to leave. Once you do something, after that it's not an affair," he said.
Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace
Flavia dated EastEnders' Matt Di Angelo (BBC)Italian dancer Flavia Cacace, 43, has had three relationships due to her role on the hit BBC show. While Flavia was in a relationship with dance partner Vincent Simone, who also worked on Strictly, she was paired with EastEnders actor Matt Di Angelo, 36, on the 2007 series. Despite mounting rumours the duo denied having an affair throughout the show, however soon after Matt gushed they couldn’t wait to be a couple. “She's stupidly attractive. Every guy in Britain knows it,” he said. In 2010 the couple split and a few weeks later Flavia was dating her new Strictly partner Jimi Mistry. To this day the pair are happily married, shunning the public eye to live on a small farm in Devon.
Strictly's Molly Rainford and Tyler West fuel romance rumours while on tour
Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe
Ricky Whittle danced with Natalie Lowe this was not the reason for his relationship breakdownHollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle, 42, split with his girlfriend and co-star Carley Stenson, 40, during the filming of the 2009 series. Although many were quick to point out that his chemistry on the dance floor with Aussie dancer Natalie Lowe, 43, could have been a factor. Ricky put these rumours to bed telling Closer Magazine at the time, "You have to have chemistry – it’s acting. I need to make people believe the rumba is about two people in love, and the tango is about passion… It’s actually a step down from my usual love scenes!"
Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff
Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff dated for four years (Getty)Weeks into his stint on the 2009 show, ex boxer Joe Calzaghe, 51, split with his girlfriend of five years, Jo-Emma Larvin. One Joe and his professional dance partner Kristina Rihanoff, 45, were voted off the show they then announced they were in a relationship. Kristina gushed to Wales Online at the time, "Joe is the man of my dreams. I’ve found my other half and blossomed around him as a woman. I am besotted. We tell each other we love one another five times a day." They dated for four years before eventually splitting.
Dani Harmer
Dani went through a break up at the start of the 2012 series (PA)
Tracy Beaker's Dani Harmer in action (PA)Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer, 34, was paired with dance professional Vincent Simone on the 2012 series of Strictly, but the two did not have a romantic relationship. However, just days into the contest she did go through a break up with her director boyfriend Graeme Livingstone. A source told The Sun at the time: "The timing was terrible. Dani filmed her first show on Wednesday night then split from Graeme the next week.”
Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
Rachel and Pasha have gone on to marry and have two children (PA)Countdown star , 37, was paired with Kovalev, 43, 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. Rachel, who shares two children with Pasha, has since claimed that their relationship did not blossom on the show. “That wasn’t until much later,” she explained on the Dirty Mother Pukka podcast.
Susanna Reid
Susanna with Kevin on Strictly (PA)
Susanna's marriage ended after Strictly but this was a coincidence (Getty Images)Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid, 52, was runner up on the 2013 series alongside her professional dancer Kevin Clifton and weeks after the show finished she split with her long-term partner Dominic Cotton. However, Susanna reassured fans her appearance on Strictly was not a contributing factor. “So I say it's a Strictly coincidence. Kevin and I got on like a house on fire. It was not responsible for the break up of my relationship. I am still fantastic friends with my ex and really good friends with Kevin,” she said on Loose Women.
Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff
Rugby star Ben and dancer Kristina are now engaged (krihanoff/Instagram)Former rugby star Ben Cohen fell for Russian dancer Kristina Rihanoff, both 45, after they danced together on Strictly in 2013. Ben was married at the time and initially Kristina had claimed that Ben’s 11-year marriage to wife Abby finished months before they hooked up. However, Abby was having none of it and tweeted, “@KRihanoff there you go my lovely…..," alongside a 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.” Ben and Krisitina now have a six-year-old called Mila and are engaged.
Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice
Georgia and Giovanni dated for a year (PA)Corrie actress Georgia May Foote, 32, was in a relationship with co-star Sean Ward, 35, when she donned her dancing shoes for the 2015 competition. When the series was over the cobbles colleagues announced their split, and soon after her and Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice, 33, revealed they were dating. However less than a year later the pair released a joint statement, explaining: "It is with great sadness we have decided to split up. There is nobody else involved.”
Louise Redknapp
Louise split with husband Jamie after the series (PA)
Kevin and Louise on the dance floor (PA)Singer Louise Redknapp’s stint on Strictly in 2016 was plagued by rumours that her 19-year marriage to footballer Jamie Redkapp, 50, was in trouble. Despite this, her and and dance partner Kevin Clifton, 40, managed to reach the final. When the series finished Louise, 48, and Jamie confirmed their split, and the next year Louise filed for divorce. Speaking about the break up later, she explained, "Strictly put the fire back in my belly, but it didn't break up my relationship. After 20 years of marriage, it takes a lot more than that."
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton
Kevin and Stacey have been together since 2019 (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Stacey and Kevin won the Glitterball Trophy and each other's affection (BBC / Guy Levy)Documentary maker Stacey Dooley, 36, was in a relationship with personal trainer Sam Tucknott during the 2018 series of Strictly. However she went on to win the Glitterball Trophy in her dance partner Kevin Clifton's heart. Sam did not take their relationship ending well and slammed Kevin, calling him “a slippery, slimy snake.” Stacey went on to explain that there are “two sides to every story”. Stacey and Kevin are still a couple and share a baby daughter called Minnie, who was born in January. Kevin had split from his wife and fellow Strictly pro Karen Hauer in early 2018, before he was partnered with Stacey, but they remain close friends.
Seann Walsh and Katya Jones
Seann and Katya were caught publicly kissingThe photos of Seann Walsh and Katya Jones’ 2018 kiss made newspaper front pages across the country. The comedian, 37, and his professional dance partner, 34, were papped in an embrace on the streets of Soho on the evening of his girlfriend Rebecca Humphries’ birthday. At the time Katya was also married to fellow Strictly dancer Neil Jones, and understandably the fall-out was massive. Rebecca released a statement ending the relationship shortly after, explaining that Seann had lied to her face and “aggressively and repeatedly called me a psycho/nuts/mental” when she suspected he was having an affair. In 2019 Katya and Neil split, but denied the saga was the reason.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman 'sign deal' to host Strictly for two more years
John Whaite and Johannes Radebe
John and Johannes won rave reviews (Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)
Johannes and John were the first same-sex pairing in 2021 (Getty Images)Bake-off star John Whaite and South African dance pro-Johannes Radebe made history as Strictly's first same-sex pairing back in 2021 - and sparks flew between them. The baker's connection with the dancer prompted him to take time apart from his fiancé Paul Aitkins. He told the Times: “When you’re physically pressed against another man for 10 hours a day, things move emotionally. So I fell in love with him [Johannes]. I still love him, of course I do. I can’t speak for him – because I’m not allowed to, legally – but it felt like there was love there.” However, the Strictly Curse didn't cause a split between John and Paul and they decided to give their romance another go.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
