Every year there are casualties to the Strictly Curse, and this past series suffered more than most.
And now winner Stacey Dooley has spoken out about rumours her boyfriend, Sam Tucknott was “insanely jealous” of her dance partner Kevin Clifton, insisting he was “a dream”.
Speaking in a new interview with The Times Magazine, the BBC documentary presenter said: “The truth is Kevin and I are brilliant friends and he’ll be my pal for life. And Sam was probably the most supportive he has ever been.”
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The TV star – who posed on the cover with her adorable bulldog, Bernie – added: “When I first got the gig, he was just so made up. He was dancing around our living room. And every week he’d say, ‘Listen to Kevin. Kevin knows best.’ He was a dream.”
During the show, sources told The Sun, the journalist – best known for fronting Stacey Dooley Investigates – was struggling in her relationship.
An insider claimed: “Sam has been quite vocal about her dancing with a single man and was really paranoid that they were going to split because of the show.
“She says he has become insanely jealous even though she insisted there was nothing for him to worry about.”
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The source added of Stacey and Kevin, 36: “Kevin and Stacey are very close, as is inevitable through the course of a show like Strictly.”
Since the end of the BBC series, Stacey, 31, has been performing in the Strictly Live Tour – but is partnered with pro dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, as Kevin had other commitments.
The tour has been hit with its own controversial moments, and just this week, it was claimed the schedule was making it impossible for Stacey to spend time with Sam.
According to The Sun, Stacey told friends her relationship is ‘under massive strain’ and is being very open with fellow stars and crew about how difficult it’s been.
It was also claimed Sam was undecided about whether their relationship could survive them being separated for much longer.
The Strictly tour finishes up this week.
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