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Strictly Come Dancing curse: From Dianne Buswell to Seann Walsh, Rachel Riley and more

Curse: Katya Jones and Seann Walsh: Instagram / Katya Jones
Curse: Katya Jones and Seann Walsh: Instagram / Katya Jones

Strictly Come Dancing has been blighted by countless rocky relationships since launching in 2004.

The frequency of break-ups of those who star has led some to believe a “Strictly curse” haunts every series.

The so-called curse has struck twice this year with professional dancer Dianne Buswell splitting from Anthony Quinlan and Seann Walsh and Katya Jones pictured kissing after a boozy night out, resulting in the comedian being kicked to the curb by his actress girlfriend.

They aren’t the first, of course, and they probably (sadly) won’t be the last. Here's a look at some of the show's most high-profile splits…

Happier times: Dianne Buswell and Anthony Quinlan have split (Instagram / Dianne Buswell)
Happier times: Dianne Buswell and Anthony Quinlan have split (Instagram / Dianne Buswell)

Seann Walsh and Katya Jones

Caught: Seann Walsh and Katya Jones (BBC/Guy Levy)
Caught: Seann Walsh and Katya Jones (BBC/Guy Levy)

Walsh and Jones were pictured kissing outside a London venue after a night out, later blaming their indiscretions on too much to drink. Both quickly apologised for their actions, and Jones insisted that her marriage to fellow Strictly professional Neil Jones is “absolutely fine”.

Walsh, however, was dumped by his girlfriend of five years, Rebecca Humphries, with the actress claiming that she had been branded “nuts” for previously suggesting something was going on between the two. She left him – and took the cat with her .

Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole

Perhaps the original victims of the Strictly curse, broadcaster Kaplinsky and Cole – who left the show earlier this year – were hit by rumours of an affair during the first series in May 2004.

Kaplinsky, the eventual champion of the series, was with husband Mike Barnard at the time while Cole was in a relationship with another dancer, Camilla Dallerup.

Speaking years later, Cole told the Daily Mail that he had split with Dallerup early in the series and was therefore single and “never crossed any lines”.

Karen and Kevin Clifton

Over: Karen and Kevin Clifton have split up (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Over: Karen and Kevin Clifton have split up (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

The Burn The Floor couple, who married in 2015, split earlier this year but vowed they were “stronger than ever professionally”, embarking on their own tour just weeks after the news was announced.

Karen had been spotted on a series of dates with another man while rumours circulated that Kevin had been close to his former Strictly partner Louise Redknapp, who was runner-up in 2016.

Louise and Jamie Redknapp

Good friends: Louise Redknapp and Kevin Clifton (Joe Giddens/PA)
Good friends: Louise Redknapp and Kevin Clifton (Joe Giddens/PA)

The 2016 second (or third) placed contestant divorced former footballer Jamie earlier in 2018, citing that things were beyond repair after not spending enough time together.

It is claimed that because the show thrust Louise back into the spotlight, they “barely saw each other” and Louise herself credited Strictly pal Daisy Lowe and the show for helping her regain her confidence and “feel sexy”.

Daisy Lowe and Bradley Wade

Series 14: Daisy Lowe and Aljaz Skorjanec (Guy Levy/BBC)
Series 14: Daisy Lowe and Aljaz Skorjanec (Guy Levy/BBC)

Lowe split with her boyfriend after a few months on the show back in 2016, with sources claiming that they “struggled” to find time to spend together and were unable to save their five-month romance.

Flavia Cacace and Matt Di Angelo (and Jimi Mistry)

Cacace sailed through the competition with EastEnders actor Di Angelo in 2007 - but their close relationship on-screen soon turned into much more as Cacace split from professional partner Vincent Simone to be with Di Angelo weeks after the series ended.

The pair lasted three years before splitting up, with Cacace back in the Strictly curse headlines weeks later for getting together with Jimi Mistry, who she was partnered with that year.

Rachel Riley and Jamie Gilbert

Couple: Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev began dating a year after the show (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Couple: Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev began dating a year after the show (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

The Countdown queen called time on her relationship with billionaire husband Jamie Gilbert, 15 months after they’d tied the knot, with rumours circulating about Riley and Strictly partner Pasha Kovalev.

Riley insisted Kovalev had nothing to do with their split. The pair did however begin dating about a year later and are still together.

Georgia May Foote and Sean Ward

The Coronation Street pair were dating when Foote was paired up with Giovanni Pernice in 2015. After making it all the way to the final, Foote split with Ward and was later spotted out and about with Pernice.

The loved-up couple didn’t last too long, splitting shortly before the 2016 series of Strictly. They citied busy work schedules.

Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen

Proud parents: Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen started dating shortly after being paired up and now have a daughter (Dave Benett)
Proud parents: Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen started dating shortly after being paired up and now have a daughter (Dave Benett)

Former rugby man Cohen was partnered with Rihanoff in 2013 and the pair immediately hit it off. Shortly after the show ended, Cohen announced he was divorcing wife of 11 years Abby Blaynay.

Rihanoff and Cohen soon emerged as a couple and are now parents to two-year-old Milena.