For a BBC family show, Strictly Come Dancing has gained a wild reputation over the years after seemingly playing a hand in scores of celebrity couples breaking up... or hooking up
Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page have become the latest couple to be blighted by the 'curse'. Tasha who danced with Aljaž Škorjanec in the latest series of the BBC dance show, has already spotted on celebrity dating Raya weeks after dumping Andrew, who she met on Love Island in 2022. The bombshell comes as Tasha prepares to waltz off with her co-stars on the months-long Strictly tour.
Insider say cracks began to show when Tasha appeared on Strictly. The blonde model is by no means the first Strictly contestant to re-evaluate their private life after appearing on the show - from Louise Redknapp to Stacey Dooley, the dance series has inspired many break-ups.
As previous series will testify, the bond between couples can extend way beyond the realms of ballroom dancing, with the steamy show offering the perfect backdrop for a romance to ignite. While other stars have chosen to part ways with their long-term partners after having their eyes widened in the glittering world of competitive dance.
Even host Claudia Winkleman has admitted she fully understands why the BBC show has skirted controversy in the past.
"I understand, it’s very intense," she previously told the Radio Times. "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."
We take a look at all the couples who have been torn apart by the infamous Strictly curse...
Neil and Katya Jones
Strictly couple Neil and Katya Jones marriage collapsed after six years in August 2019 - 10 months after Katya was photographed kissing her her dance partner Seann Walsh. The pair were spotted snogging in the street when a late night dance rehearsal was followed up with a boozy trip to the pub.
Katya was married to fellow dancer and Strictly co-star Neil Jones at the time while Seann was also in a long-term relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries.
'Kiss-gate', as the scandal became known, stole headlines for the BBC show that year, with a downcast Katya and Seann forced to make a grovelling apology for their antics on spin-off show It Takes Two.
The duo awkwardly carried on in the competition despite a huge public backlash - with Neil left to watch from the sidelines as they danced in the studio together just days after pictures of the snog hit news stands.
After vowing kiss-gate would not effect them, Katya and Neil's marriage never recovered from the scandal. The pair confirmed their break-up on Instagram in a joint statement less than a year later. "We will always love each other, just in a different way as friends. This will never change what a great team we make and we are really proud of everything we have achieved together," they told fans.
Karen and Kevin Clifton
The Cliftons are another professional dancing pair whose marriage did not outlast their time on Strictly.
When Kevin was paired with comedian Susan Calman in 2017 there were whispers of backstage tension between him and wife Karen. During Kevin and Susan's elimination, the dancer took the opportunity to make a grovelling public apology to Karen - leaving viewers stunned.
"When Strictly is on I’m not the easiest person to live with. I go a bit mad. So I’d like to say first of all thanks to my wife for putting up with me," Kevin told host Tess Daly.
The spouses shrugged off the gossip and immediately after the series announced that they were heading off on a joint tour together, seemingly putting an end to rumours. But just as they prepared to take their show on the road, Kevin dropped the bombshell that he and Karen had separated just three years after tying the knot.
The Grimbsy-born star broke the news to stunned listeners during an appearance on Chris Evans' Radio 2 breakfast show in March 2018. He told the host: "We’re still the best of friends – we've got a lot of love and respect for each other. I still see Karen pretty much every day... we're always throwing ideas around and putting things together creatively."
Their joint tour still went ahead and the pair continued to work together on Strictly for two more years before Kevin quit to pursue a career in theatre.
Seann Walsh
Seann sparked one of the biggest scandals to ever hit Strictly when he was papped smooching his married dancer partner Katya Jones following a boozy pub session.
The comedian was swiftly dumped by partner Rebecca Humphries, who said she had suspected something was going on between the pair. Seann later apologised for his actions, calling the kiss a 'one-off drunken mistake'.
After the heartache, Seann used the controversy as inspiration for his next comedy show where he called himself a 'liar, a cheat and a bad boyfriend' and poked fun of Katya's husband Neil Jones.
At the end of his comeback stage performance, an audience member called him a 'f***ing legend' for the kiss. To which Seann replied: "Where were you ten months ago? I f***ing needed you."
In later years, Seann has opened up about the toll on his mental health kiss-gate brought and said he is still 'haunted' by what happened.
"I felt like I'd destroyed my dreams, who I was and why I got up in the day. And it's still all I think about. What my life could have been. What I could have made of myself is gone," he reflected.
Following an appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2022, Seann has managed to turn his life around and reintroduce himself back into the spotlight.
Louise Redknapp
Married mum-of-two Louise Redknapp's appearance on Strictly proved more life-changing than she could have ever imagined.
Prior to the show, the former Eternal singer was thought to be in one of the strongest marriages in showbiz after spending 20 happy years with former footballer Jamie Redknapp. However, after finding herself back in the spotlight in 2016, Louise came to realise that 'doing the mum thing' wasn't all she wanted anymore.
She later admitted she'd grown tired of 'being a Stepford wife' to Jamie and said Strictly made her realise she'd given up on her dreams to focus on her family - and she was ready for a change.
As the competition raced towards the final, Louise said she started to feel 'physically sick' at the thought of never dancing again.
After the show came to an end, the mum-of-two relaunched her solo career and announced she was touring in musical Cabaret.
Then following months of rumours, the following October Louise confirmed that she and Jamie were living apart and she filed for divorce in December 2017.
Jamie later moved on with model Frida Andersson, the pair tied the knot at the Chelsea Registry Office in 2021 and have welcomed a son together.
Louise went on to say, "There'll never be a day that I don't feel sad about it because he was my husband for 20 years and the love I had for him will never leave me.
Daisy Lowe
Starring on Strictly at the same time as Louise in 2016, model Daisy Lowe had a blast on the show and quickly became good friends with many of the stars.
While she gained some new pals, the model lost her boyfriend when she split from beau Bradley 'Frankie' Wade' during the competition. Sources claimed the duo never spent any time together as Daisy threw herself into training with professional Aljaz Skorjanec.
She remains good friends with Alijaz and his wife Janette Manara and continues to speak to Louise Redknapp long after they competed on the show together.
Joe Calzaghe
Before coupling up with rugby star Ben Cohen, former professional Kristina was first charmed by another hunky sports star when producers paired her up with boxer Joe Calzaghe.
Joe split with his girlfriend Jo-Emma Larvin in 2009 and went public with his relationship with Kristina shortly after.
The couple continued to date for another four years, before eventually calling it quits with Kristina savagely claiming Joe found it difficult when I danced with other men.'
Georgia May Foote
Coronation Street's Georgia was loved-up with fellow soap star Sean Ward when she signed up to the dance contest back in 2015.
She made it all the way to the final with Giovanni Pernice with her beau Sean supporting them every step of the way. But shortly after the contest ended, shocking pictures emerged of Georgia and Giovanni kissing on a trip to Paris as they went public with their feelings for one another.
Their relationship didn't last a year with the couple separating shortly before the start of Strictly 2016 blaming their hectic schedules.
Giovanni Pernice
Italian heartthrob Giovanni Pernice has earned a reputation as something of a ladies man of the show.
He has enjoyed romances with dance partner Georgia May Foote and Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts - who wasn't even partnered with him.
He was also linked to Good Morning Britain's Ranvir Singh lin 2020 and Debbie McGee in 2017, although the rumours about both ladies were dismissed.
Strictly couples who are still together....
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton
Documentary maker Stacey was supported by long-term boyfriend Sam when she lifted the Glitterball Trophy in December 2018 alongside dance mentor Kevin Clifton.
Just three months later, Stacey's three year relationship with the personal trainer was over.
A heartbroken Sam claimed that things between him and the flame-haired presenter had turned sour when he noticed messages from Kevin on his girlfriend's phone, prompting him to dub the professional a 'snake' and a 'rat.'
A month later, Stacey shared her first loved-up photo with 'King Kev' as she affectionately calls him, confirming they were now an item. The pair are still going strong and have welcomed daughter Minnie together.
Speaking about her ex moving on, Kevin's ex-wife Karen said at the time: "I don’t really know anything about that. When we go in [to rehearsals] we’re literally going crazy with all the routines. But you know what he looks extremely happy, so I’m happy that he’s happy."
At the time, Karen was still working with Kevin on tour and said his new relationship wasn't making things as awkward as you would think. She said: "Most people think that we’d be like ‘oh I don’t like it’, but no. Not at all. We laugh. There is no drama. I don’t like drama baby llama! I’m happy, he’s happy, let’s all be happy."
Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg
Flame-haired Dianne called time on her relationship with boyfriend Anthony Quinlan not long after being partnered with YouTube sensation Joe Sugg.
Dianne's chemistry with Joe was said to be undeniable backstage at the BBC dance show, with sources saying at the time: "Everyone's been discussing how close they'd become. It did not go unnoticed by Anthony."
Despite the rumours, Dianne and Joe continued to deny they were anything but dance partners as they progressed all the way to the final in 2018.
But the day after the pair finished in second place behind Kevin and Stacey, Joe finally shared their happy news with the world. The vlogger gushed on Instagram: "I may not have won the glitterball but I've won something a million times more special," as he shared a photo of him and Dianne to the world.
The pair have on to purchase a stunning home together and continue to spark rumours of an engagement. Joe surprised Dianne when she won Strictly 2024 with Chris McCausland with a huge display of congratulations at their home, leaving her speechless by the show of support.
Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
Countdown brainbox Rachel split from her university sweetheart and husband of 15 months after her time on Strictly.
Rachel firmly denied her chemistry with dance partner Pasha Kovalev was anything to do with the break-up.
Then months after confirming her marriage split, Rachel and Pasha announced that they were an item.
The pair tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2019 and have since gone on to welcome two children together.
Flavia Cacace and Jimi Mistry
Fan favourite Flavia is another professional who has had her fair share of links with the so-called Strictly curse.
Flavia started her time on the show in a relationship with co-star and fellow professional Vincent Simone. She then dumped Vincent after being paired with EastEnders heartthrob Matt Di Angelo in 2007.
Their romance lasted three years until 2010 when producers put Flavia with actor Jimi Mistry when he appeared on the show.
Weeks after announcing her split with Matt, Flavia went public with Jimi. The happy couple are still together and are have celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary.
Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff
Rugby ace Ben was partnered with blonde bombshell Kristina Rihanoff for his stint in the competition in 2013.
While the pair didn't make the final, they found something in each other and embarked on a sizzling new romance.
It came after the demise of Ben's 11 year marriage to wife Abby Blayney, with whom he shares two daughters. Proving all their critics wrong, Ben and Kristina have stayed together and share daughter Milena.