Tyler West of Strictly Come Dancing has chimed in on the ‘Strictly curse’ following allegations that John Whaite ‘fell in love’ with his professional dance partner.
This Thursday, the former Great British Bake Off champion, 34, said he had fallen for Johannes Radebe, 36, after they became the BBC ballroom show’s first same-sex partnership in 2021.
Tyler, who featured on the programme last season and met his fiancée Molly Rainford while competing, now says he’s not shocked because ‘everyone falls in love’ with the dancer.
Tyler and Lorraine anchor Ranvir Singh discussed the allegations during his entertainment news section, saying there was something about the professional dancer that kept people fascinated.
‘What I want to say is, a little disclaimer, everybody falls in love with Johannes,’ he shared.
‘We all do,’ Ranvir added.
‘He is completely the most beautiful, ethereal, angelic person you will ever meet and it’s not even a lie.’
The Kiss FM radio DJ, 27, then shared his own experience of having love feelings grow while on the show, saying he was grateful for meeting Molly, 22, on the BBC series.
‘Everyone always talks about the Strictly curse but for me it was a blessing because I was in a completely different situation with Molly,’ he explained.
‘But you go through this experience where it is so stressful and you’re dancing and training hard and when you go through an emotional experience like that, you do naturally become close to people,’ he added.
Celebrity competitors and professional dancing partners who fall in love when one or both are in a relationship are said to be cursed.
In an interview with The Times, John who was in a relationship with long-term partner Paul Atkins at the time, admitted: ‘I fell in love with him. I can’t speak for him – because I’m not allowed to, legally – but it felt like there was love there.
He continued: ‘So yes, I fell in love with Johannes. I still love Johannes. Of course, I do.’
The baker said he told Paul, a graphic designer, about his feelings toward Johannes which resulted in them agreeing on some ‘time apart’.
The couple, who are now engaged, eventually reconciled, with John explaining: ‘I look at Paul and what he’s put up with over the years and how he’s nurtured me and stood by me, and who would throw that away? I couldn’t.’
While John stated that he still chatted with Johannes on occasion, he would discontinue communication if things were ‘tricky’ for his partner.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV1.
Source My Celebrity Life.
