THE REAL CURSE OF STRICTLY

STARRING on Strictly Come Dancing is often said to put the celebrity contestants’ love lives in peril.

But the real ‘curse of Strictly’ is the weight dancers pile on as soon as they stop hoofing all day, says one of the BBC show’s professionals. ‘Your body adapts to being in Strictly and gets used to burning calories every day,’ says Kevin Clifton, who is partnered with cuddly comedienne Susan Calman, 42, for this year’s series.

‘But after the final, you stop and, suddenly, you aren’t burning the calories and start packing yourself with food. You go “booof” and get fat!’