Although Strictly Come Dancing is not a dating programme or a soap opera, the themes of love and romance permeate every season of the show.
To the point that the term “Strictly curse” has emerged in recent years to explain the recurring pattern of high-profile breakups, affairs, and romances that occur in the days leading up to, during, and following the programme.
Celebrities Fleur East, Kaye Adams, Kym Marsh, and Helen Skleton have all confirmed their participation in this year’s competition, which will return to television screens on September 17.
Before this season’s couples hit the dance floor, though, let’s take a look back at the many romances that have blossomed between previous Strictly partners.
Brian Fortuna and Ali Bastian
After working together on Strictly in 2009, Hollyoaks’ Ali Bastian and Fortuna began dating.
Shortly after 2010’s passing, they decided to part ways.
Researchers Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen
Kristina Rihanoff, a dancer, and rugby player Ben Cohen, a contestant, danced together on the 2013 season of Strictly.
Cohen and Rihanoff were allegedly seen holding hands on a London subway train in September 2014, despite the fact that both parties denied having a romantic relationship.
The next year, Cohen and his wife of 11 years, Abby, called it quits.
Since then, Cohen and Rihanoff have gotten together, and in 2016, they had their first child, a daughter named Milena.
Flavia Cacace and Jimi Mistry
As dance partners on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, Jimi Mistry and Flavia Cacace were a popular pairing.
Cacace shared the happy news that she had gotten engaged in January 2013. In the latter days of the year, they tied the knot.
Pasha Kovalev and Rachel Riley
In 2013, while Rachel Riley was competing on Strictly, she and her husband Jamie Gilbert announced their separation.
Riley made public her relationship with Pasha Kovalev, her dancing partner, the next year.
The Countdown host strongly denied any romantic connection between her several partners.
They tied the knot in 2019 and are the proud parents of two young ladies: Maven, 2, and Noa, 10 months.
Artem Chigvintsev and Kara Tointon
Actress Kara Tointon of EastEnders began dating her Strictly dance partner Artem Chigvintsev in 2010.
The relationship lasted for over three years before the pair broke up in 2013.
Said couple: Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice
Soon after Georgia May Foote participated in Strictly in 2015, she and her Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward broke up.
They began dating soon after, and she is now in a dance partnership with Giovanni Pernice. After only eight months together, the new couple called it quits, with Foote saying in a statement that they were “just friends now.”
The decision to end our relationship was not made lightly. She emphasised that there was “no one else involved.”
We’re both going to be quite busy for the remainder of the year, so we’re going to separate to focus on our respective projects.
Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley
In April 2019, Stacey Dooley and her Strictly dancing partner Kevin Clifton announced their engagement.
Dooley and her boyfriend of three years, Sam Tucknott, had broken up a month prior to the announcement.
In August, Dooley announced that she and Clifton were expecting their first child.
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang….. We’re having The statement was made by Dooley. I am so ecstatic it hurts. Kev, you make my world go ’round; I adore you.
Seann Walsh and Katya Jones
Dancer Katya Jones, who was married to dancer Neil Jones at the time, was photographed kissing her celebrity dance partner, comedian Seann Walsh, in 2018. Walsh also dated actress Rebecca Humphries around this period.
After their kiss, Jones and Walsh both expressed regret, calling their actions a “one-time inebriated mistake.”
There’s Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell.
Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell, his Strictly partner of 2018, reached it to the final. Soon after the tournament concluded, Sugg made the relationship official with an Instagram post.
Not the Glitterball, but something a million times more special,” he wrote.