Strictly Come Dancing curse: What is it and which celebrities succumbed to it?

This autumn will see a brand new season of BBC One’s hit show Strictly Come Dancing. The show always promises some twists and turns (literally and figuratively) and that explains its popularity.

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In the last couple of weeks; BBC have announced the official line-up for this new season. Angela Rippon, Love Island star Zara McDermott and broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy will be taking to the dance floor.

While the show is a delight to watch there is something mystical about it and it’s not the dresses or the surprise of who wins at the end. No… It’s much darker and it might involve some magic!

What is the Strictly Come Dancing curse?

According to The Independent, the Strictly Come Dancing curse has been a tabloid favourite for over a decade. The publication describes it as:

the idea that participating on Strictly Come Dancing (whether as a celebrity or a professional dancer) threatens the status of the relationship you’re in when you sign up.

The Independent continues by explaining that the curse is founded on the sheer fact that, every week, people watch couples dance and that it leads them to read some erotic energy into the moves. It might be fair to say that some dances are more sensual than others but what happens on the dance floor doesn’t always reflect what is going on backstage.

At least that’s what host Claudia Winkleman has tried to explain as she repeatedly shuts down the curse rumours. However science doesn’t lie and dancing, or any form of physical activity for that matter, releases endorphins and these are the ‘happy’ hormones. The Independent states:

Throwing yourself into a diligent exercise schedule with just one other person and far away from your romantic partner forces you into a very intimate relationship

This Musicals Week on #Strictly we’re thinking fondly of Phantom routines that graced the @bbcstrictly dance floor in years past 💃

Which Strictly Come Dancing Phantom routine is your favourite? pic.twitter.com/SYQICvfXNM
— The Phantom Of The Opera (@PhantomOpera) December 4, 2022

Who has fallen to the Strictly Come Dancing curse?

Even though Claudia Winkleman tries to deny it, the evidence is still there. Many contestants have broken up with their significant others during or shortly after being on Strictly.

On 13 August, another former contestant has spoken about the impact of the curse. John Whaite who took part in the show in 2021 and made history dancing with a male dancer, revealed that he was almost impacted by the curse.The Sun reports that Whaite and his ‘partner of 15 years’ had to spend ‘some time apart’ after the show. The reason for that, well it’s simple. Whaite admitted that he fell in love with his dance partner.

I can't speak for him (his dance partner) - because I'm not allowed to, legally - but it felt like there was love there.

Now John Whaite is back with his long time partner and the pair is engaged. The curse failed on that one!

But it didn’t fail when it comes to these contestants:

Louise Redknapp divorced her footballer husbands after the show. Seann Walsh was seen kissing his dance partner Katya Jones. Joe Calzaghe ended his five year relationship to get with dance partner Kristina Rihanoff.

We could keep going. While some of those relationships between contestants and dancers didn’t last, some did. For instance, Countdown star Rachel Riley and dancer Pasha Kovalev are still happily together and have welcomed two children.

Shared experience of being on Strictly

Something that keeps coming back while reading about this possible curse is not the love or attraction that these people seem to share. Instead it’s the experience of being on Strictly altogether. Several former contestants have revealed that being on the show allowed them to gain perspective on their lives and consequently, their relationships.

Maybe we should stop referring to this phenomenon as a curse and look at it as a blessing.