Every single year, without fail, as celebrities put their best foot forward on Strictly Come Dancing, viewers at home are left chatting about will-they-won't-they romance rumours. The show has been on our screens for 20 years now - what?! - and over those years, there have been some very famous instances of the now infamous 'Strictly curse'.
What is the Strictly curse?
While there have been instances of celebrities coming into the show single, and leaving with a new-found IRL partner in their professional counterpart, the 'Strictly curse' refers to when things are a little more complicated... when either the celebrity, or the dancer, are already in a relationship, which breaks down over (or shortly after) the series. (Perhaps the most famous example is Seann Walsh and Katya Jones.)
This year, the speculation isn't slowing down. Within hours of the first live show, Pete Wicks and his dance partner Jowita Pryzstal have been the subject of romance rumours, fuelled by their cosy displays and close friendship. It hasn't helped that they have both been very complimentary about each other - plus they're both single.
'I am absolutely loving it and I never thought I would be because I didn't think this was really my thing. I'm not a dancer. I don't think I have rhythm,' Pete said. 'But what I am loving is the whole learning experience and that the bit that is most exciting for me, in the rehearsal room with Jowita. She makes me really happy every day.'
Why does the Strictly curse keep rearing its head year after year?
What is it about spending all of your time dancing that makes you want to fall head over heels in love with your dance partner?
Presenter Claudia Winkleman has previously said she doesn't believe in the curse, as such, but she does understand how those single can fall for their partners. ‘I understand, it’s very intense,' she told Digital Spy. 'I don’t believe in the curse, but I think lots of people have come in single and they might have met somebody or had a little romance.’
But Claudia thinks contestants '[don't] fall in love with people, they might just love the experience.’ (Which might explain why some couples split afterwards.)
There is also a more science-y reason why so many non-dancers end up pining for the dancers, according to behavioural psychologist and relationship coach, Jo Hemmings.
'When you’re thrust into a situation where you are very close physically and psychologically to a someone, spending a great deal of time with them and performing dances that require complete trust and emotional investment, it’s no wonder that it feels deeply intimate,' she tells Grazia.
'People will get bursts of the feel-good hormones of serotonin and oxytocin – the cuddle hormone. As they dance, endorphins are released, which increases their heart rate and feelings of attraction. And if they do get further through the process, dopamine kicks in – our reward hormone – which simply amplifies all the other positive feelings. This combination of hormones all feels very similar to falling in love.'
And the couples do spend a hell of a lot of time together, as Dianne Buswell - who is actually with her partner from 2018, Joe Sugg - told us that she will be rehearsing with her dance partner from 8am-6pm. So... Imagine spending that long with somebody, dancing all up close and personal - wouldn't it be difficult not to fall in love with someone?
But, as Jo points out, some of these relationships are doomed to fail. As we know, not all of the 'Strictly curse' couples stay together - and similar to as Claudia says, that might be because the experience is over.
'And then it stops. You’re no longer in the show, you’re not spending intense amounts of time practising intimate moves with your dancing partner and those hormones suddenly plummet,' Jo adds. 'And you may miss your partner and the excitement and adrenaline and/or recognise what may be lacking in your own relationship.
'However strong you think your relationship is, the whole experience will inevitably have some sort of impact on how you move forward. So not so much a curse, more an intoxicating and powerful challenge, which may be hard to resist.'
Who has been affected by the Strictly curse?
Over the course of the two decades, many couples have fallen victim to the Strictly curse. Some continue to be head over heels in love, others less so.
Still in love
Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
The Countdown star fell in love with Pasha when they were partnered in 2013. At the time, Rachel was married to businessman Jamie Gilbert, but their one-year marriage ended shortly after her Strictly stint. Rachel and Pasha’s love has lasted for over a decade, as they married in 2019 and share daughters Maven and Noa. ‘What Strictly did was give me distance [from my marriage] and it was the emotional distance that I needed to break away,’ Rachel said.
Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen
Following her failed romance with celebrity partner Joe Calzaghe (see below), Kristina found love with former rugby player Ben whom she was paired with on the 2013 series – ending Ben’s 11-year marriage. The couple, who have daughter Milena, got engaged in 2022.
Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez
Unlike the other couples, Gemma and Gorka weren’t partnered with each other in 2017. However, sparks flew between them on set and on the Strictly tour. More than six years on, they’re still as loved up with their daughter Mia and son Thiago.
Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg
They may not have lifted the Glitterball trophy in 2018 but Dianne and Joe came first in the love stakes. The Australian dancer – who ended her relationship weeks into rehearsals for the series – and the YouTuber fell for each other while they were paired and have moved in together. ‘We’re so happy,’ she said.
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton
Winners on and off the dancefloor, Stacey and Kevin started dating after their victory in 2018, when the presenter’s five-year relationship with personal trainer Sam Tucknott, who cheered Stacey on from the stands, ended. The pair, who prefer keeping their romance low-key, are stronger than ever, living together with their daughter Minnie.
Max George and Maisie Smith
Former Wanted singer Max and ex-EastEnders actress Maisie began dating in 2022, after appearing on the 13th series of Strictly. They have sparked engagement rumours after moving in together in January 2023.
Molly Rainford and Tyler West
Romance blossomed between EastEnders star Molly and radio presenter Tyler after they competed on the 2022 series of Strictly, although they only started dating the following year after connecting during the live tour. They moved in together in January 2024.
Split
Brendan Cole and Natasha Kaplinsky
The show’s inaugural winners Brendan and Natasha were the first pair to be hit by Strictly curse rumours in 2004. The couple were rumoured to be romantically involved after both their relationships fell apart but denied that anything happened between them. ‘There was chemistry, of course, and I certainly fell in love with dancing, but I did not fall in love with Brendan,’ Natasha said.
Flavia Cacace and Matt Di Angelo
It wasn’t long before the friendship between Flavia and Matt turned romantic after they were paired up in 2007. When Flavia split with her boyfriend of 11 years, fellow Strictly pro Vincent Simone, he blamed Matt for the break-up. Flavia and Matt split in 2012 after three years together. Flavia is now married to Jimi Mistry, who she met on Strictly in 2010.
Kristina Rihanoff and Joe Calzaghe
Cupid’s bow hit Kristina and Joe when they were partnered together in 2009. Following the boxer’s split from his girlfriend of five years Jo-Emma Larvin, they got together. They dated for four years until ‘mutually and amicably’ going their separate ways.
Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe
Ricky broke up with his girlfriend and Hollyoaks co-star Carley Stenson shortly after he signed up for the 2009 series, amid speculation that he was dating his dance partner Natalie. He has denied the rumours, saying that their on-screen chemistry was purely for show.
Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna
Victory proved elusive for Ali and Brian, but they found love on the dancefloor as they waltzed around together in the 2009 series (it was a great year for romances). They went public with their relationship a week after they were voted off. Sadly, it wasn’t to last, with their whirlwind romance ending in 2010.
Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev
2010 winners Kara and Artem found more than triumph on Strictly, also finding each other when they were partnered that year. They dated for four years, until their relationship ended in 2014.
Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice
The Coronation Street actress initially denied rumours that she was with her pro partner Giovanni, as she was in a new relationship with her co-star Sean Ward. However, she ended up leaving him for the Sicilian dancer in 2015. Georgia and Gio moved in together but split less than a year later.
Louise Redknapp
Louise decided to end her 20-year marriage with Jamie Redknapp, after her Strictly stint in 2016. She denied that her growing closeness with partner Kevin Clifton led to her marriage break-up, saying, ‘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.’
Katya Jones and Seann Walsh
Comedian Seann and his pro partner Katya shocked viewers when they were caught cheating on their partners in 2018. Their sneaky snog ended Katya’s six-year marriage to fellow dancer Neil Jones and Seann’s five-year relationship with Rebecca Humphries, who responded with a tweet, which soon went viral.
Ashley Roberts and Giovanni Pernice
Giovanni’s Italian charm struck again when he romanced Ashley - who was partnered with Pasha - in 2018. ‘I never thought anyone would ever make me smile, laugh and steal my heart as fast as you did! I love you amore,’ he said. After 14 months, the couple called it quits.
John Whaite and Johannes Radebe
John revealed that his on-screen partnership with Johannes, as the show's first all-male pairing, made him question his 14-year relationship with partner and now-husband Paul Atkins. The Bake Off star said he ‘fell in love’ with Johannes when they danced together in the 2021 series. ‘I love him to bits and I worship the ground he walks on,’ John said.