The infamous Strictly Come Dancing 'curse' doesn't at all surprise the competition's co-host Claudia Winkleman.
Over the years, high-profile names such as Kevin Clifton, Katya Jones, Diane Buswell, Seann Walsh, Rachel Riley and Stacey Dooley were each swept up in series romances – some even going beyond a quick fling and into parenthood, in the case of Kevin, 40, and Stacey, 36 – despite often boasting established relationships back at home.
Weighing in on the subject with The Sun, Claudia, 51, previously theorised: "I understand [the pressure], 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.
"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."
This comes in the wake of 2021 finalist John Whaite's loved-up confession regarding dance partner Johannes Radebe, who revealed that he and fiance Paul Atkins briefly split up once the programme had concluded.
"When you’re physically pressed against another man for 10 hours a day, things move emotionally… I fell in love with him," the 34 year old said. "I can’t speak for him – because I’m not allowed to, legally – but it felt like there was love there."
Apparently, the Great British Bake Off champion of 2012 discussed his feelings for pro Johannes, 36, "all the way through" his Strictly journey.
"Paul of all people deserved to understand how I was feeling. You go through life being told that you’ll fall in love with someone, you’ll get married, you’ll have children and that’s it. But love can’t just be directed to one person.
"The heart can easily split into two or three or four. And those loves aren’t mutually exclusive."
As for his current contact with Johannes, John went on to explain: "I love him to bits and I worship the ground he walks on, but I have to be mindful that there’s more than my own desires to consider here and if it would be tricky for Paul for me to be in contact with Johannes, then it’s a sacrifice that I have to make.
"And also for Johannes. He needs to move on with his life too. I hope I always am in contact with him. We shared something really important and that will never be taken away from us."
Ahead of the 2023 series, contestant Zara McDermott's boyfriend Sam Thompson is allegedly fearing the worst after his girlfriend has expressed the ability be unfaithful earlier on in their relationship before patching things up.
"They broke up because of [Zara's affair with music exec Brahim Fouradi] but have claimed to be super strong ever since," a source exclusively told OK!. "Sam is massively dreading history repeating itself and the Strictly curse is definitely playing on his mind."
Reacting to Zara's Strictly involvement, Sam vowed to attend her Saturday evening performances every week with pal Pete Wicks.
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer next month.
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