Strictly’s Kevin: Show must go on without me

Kevin said he felt it was the right time to leave Strictly but reckoned Craig Revel Horwood, below, never rated him as a dancer

FORMER Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin Clifton says “nobody is bigger than the show” and insists his departure will give younger professionals a chance to shine.

Kevin, 37, shocked fans earlier this month when he announced he was leaving after seven years.

The professional dancer, who also choreographed one series, won Strictly in 2018 with partner Stacey Dooley, now his girlfriend.

Speaking on his podcast, Kevin said: “At age 23 it would be different. I’d think, ‘I can stay on this for the next 10 or 15 years.’

“But at 37 years old I was thinking, ‘I’m going to turn 38’.

“If it’s going to be similar to what I

Keiran Southern

have already done I don’t see myself doing it into my forties. I have got so many other interests and I thought, ‘I’ll have to leave at some point’.

“I guess I was starting to question when the last series would be.

I kept an open dialogue with the producers.

“It did not come out of the blue. We were very open with each other.

“They were aware a while back I was at least thinking when was the time. Me leaving gives younger dancers the chance to come through now. Nobody is bigger than the show.” Known affectionately to fans as “Kevin from Grimsby”, he will star in Strictly Ballroom The Musical and hopes to write a TV drama. However, he said he felt judge Craig Revel Horwood never really trusted him.

Kevin said: “After seven years of trying to impress Craig, I always thought that Craig was never 100 per cent convinced of me.

“It was very rare that he would get his 10 paddle out.”