It’s Strictly business...
Karen & Kevin: We have split..but we still dance together on tour
STRICTLY professionals Kevin and Karen Clifton yesterday confirmed their marriage has ended – but said they will remain dance partners.
The pair revealed they were the latest couple to fall victim to the “curse” of Strictly while speaking on the radio about their upcoming UK tour.
Kevin, 35, said: “Privately, we’re not together any more. But professionally, we’re stronger than ever.”
He said dance was “the glue that held us together for years” and added: “We’re still the best of friends and have a lot of love and respect for each other.”
Kevin told BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans he still saw his ex “pretty much every day”, with Karen, also 35, interjecting: “You’re never going to get rid of me.”
CHEMISTRY
She added: “We have great chemistry. “For us it’s all about the storytelling and giving the best performance and entertaining and inspiring.” The couple met on Broadway show Burn the Floor and tied the knot in July 2015, but their relationship is said to have fallen apart last year. One problem is understood to have been Kevin’s close friendship with 2016 partner Louise Redknapp, 43, whose marriage to ex-footballer Jamie has also ended. At one point, Karen reportedly told Jamie to keep Louise away from her husband because she was “ruining our marriage”. The dancers kick off their Kevin & Karen Live UK tour in May. BBC bosses will see how they get on before deciding on inviting them back for the next series of Strictly. Kevin added: “We love the show so much. If they were to ask us back, we’d both be delighted.”