Karen Clifton says Will Young's Strictly exit was 'unexpected'

Karen Clifton had no idea Will Young was going to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

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The 34-year-old professional dancer partnered the pop star in the BBC programme, which he quit two weeks ago due to “personal reasons”, and she has denied rumours claiming there was animosity between the pair, insisting his decision was “unexpected”.

Speaking to the Daily Express, she said: “I’ve spoken to him a couple of times and we text. He’s doing well. It’s unexpected and it’s sad but it’s just the way it is.”

While Will only managed to survive the glitz and glamour of the live shows for two weeks, Karen - whose husband is fellow professional dancer Kevin Clifton - thinks they could have gone far in the competition.

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She explained: “We had the best time, I love him to pieces and we had three amazing weeks on Strictly that I’m going to remember always. He was a hard worker, he always came in and gave 150 per cent. I couldn’t ask for a better student.”

Her time on the show this year may have reached the end but the dancing star is determined to keep her spirits up by taking part in the spin-off It Takes Two.

She said: “I’m going to be on It Takes Two and possibly Children in Need. My husband Kevin and I have a tour coming up in 2017 and I’m staying in shape as much as I possibly can. I’m just staying positive.”

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Will has remained tight-lipped on his reason for leaving the show, but his decision came a few days after he locked horns with head judge Len Goodman over his Bollywood-inspired Salsa routine during a live show earlier this month.

The 72-year-old dancer thought the energetic display lacked the traditional dance moves of a Salsa, to which Will disagreed, insisting his routine contained all 24 counts needed.

However, Len had the last word as he told the Leave Right Now hitmaker to “show up, keep up, and shut up.”