Karen Hauer, a Strictly Come Dancing veteran, has revealed that there may be some victims of the infamous ‘Strictly curse’ that viewers are unaware of.
The dancer, who is the longest-serving professional on the BBC show, has seen many celebrities and other professionals come and go over the years, having been a regular on our television screens since 2012.
Of course, it’s no secret that Strictly occasionally causes a stir in the romance department, resulting in the termination of partnerships when contestants spend their entire day getting intimate with their partners.
Famous examples are Seann Walsh and Katya Jones, who everyone remembers having a hot kiss in 2018, which led to his split with his fiancée and Katya’s eventual divorce from Neil Jones.
However, according to Karen, there could be other couples who have split around the time of a Strictly stint after some bedroom tango antics and she warned: ‘I’ve seen things.’
Speaking to new! magazine, she said of the curse: ‘I’ve seen things. I’m not gonna talk about them. It exists. It’s there.
‘Whoever wants to go and play, that’s there on them.’
The 42-year-old Venezuelan actress admitted that celebrities and their partners spend hours each week getting ‘up close and personal’ during training.
However, she emphasised that she had never gone ‘there’ out of respect for the job she enjoys and the people she works with.
She is not the only Strictly contestant to have commented on the curse.
A couple of years ago, Strictly co-presenter Claudia Winkleman shared her views, telling Digital Spy: ‘I understand, it’s very intense.
‘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.’
She added: ‘It’s intoxicating, Strictly, because you’re all part of this extraordinary juggernaut.
‘So I don’t think people fall in love with people, they might just love the experience.’
Seann and Katya are the most well-known examples of the curse, with the consequences of their scandalous kiss being particularly messy for Seann’s girlfriend at the time, Rebecca Humphries.
After pictures of their intimate moment emerged, Katya shared a statement, writing: ‘I’m so sorry about any offence or hurt I may have caused with my actions.
‘I wasn’t thinking and it was a one-off mistake after some drinks. I love my husband and we are very happy together, this is not a reflection on our relationship.’
In August 2019, she and Neil announced their split after 11 years together.
Other Strictly couples include Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, who won together in 2018.
By April of the following year, they had confirmed their relationship and welcomed a child together.
However, while performing on Strictly, Stacey was in a relationship with personal trainer Sam Tucknott.
Kevin, on the other hand, was previously married to Karen, a fellow Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, and announced their separation in March 2018 after three years of marriage.
Stacey has disputed that she and Kevin became romantically connected during the competition, explaining that it happened ‘further down the line’.
It’s not all scandal and drama, though; Strictly has been known to provide singletons with their happily ever after.
After finishing as runners-up on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018, Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell got together, sparking curiosity about their relationship status.
Rachel Riley of Countdown began dating Pasha Kovalev of Strictly Come Dancing in November 2013. They married in 2019 and now have two daughters together.
In terms of pros, Kai Widdrington and Nadiya Bychkova made their romance public in 2022, startling the nation as viewers assumed he was romancing his 2021 celeb partner AJ Odudu.
That same series, however, sparks flew for John Whaite, who eventually said that he ended up ‘falling in love’ with Johannes Radebe, with whom he danced as the first male-male duo.
Nothing was pursued, but John is now married to graphic designer Paul Atkins.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC later this year, with the professional lineup already confirmed and the celebrity cast set to be announced in a matter of weeks.
While the broadcaster is, understandably, keeping quiet about who will be participating for the time being, suspicions continue to circulate.
Hannah Waddingham and Martin Roberts are speculated to appear, as is Chris McCausland, the show’s first-ever blind star.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and Player this autumn.
Source My Celebrity Life.
