CORRIE CATHERINE I won’t fall victim to Strictly curse
...but hubby’s getting teased about it by his friends!
STRICTLY’S Catherine Tyldesley has revealed that her husband’s friends think she will fall victim to the show’s curse this year.
The former Coronation Street star said Tom Pitfield had been teased by pals who believe she will run off with her dance partner on the show.
Catherine, who played Eva Price on the soap, said: “Do you know what? Tom’s got a WhatsApp group with all of his mates.
“A lot of them are rugby players as well and there is a lot of banter going on.
“They are all like ‘Oh mate... you’re screwed!’ Like, ‘She’s gonna run off’, and all this.”
But the 35-year-old, who has been married to personal trainer Tom for three years, has laughed off their comments and says there is no way she would ever cheat.
“It’s just, like, ‘Whatever’,” she said. “We are happily married and you know. The curse is a bizarre thing, isn’t it?”
On tonight’s Strictly launch show, viewers will find out who the celebrity contestants have been paired with on the dancefloor.
When asked to name her ideal partner, 5ft 6in Catherine said: “There are only two they could put me with because of my height so either Johannes or Aljaz.”
Mum-of-one Catherine also revealed ITV bosses banned her from appearing on Strictly while she was in Coronation Street.
Woah
She said she was only allowed to do “ITV things, like Dancing on Ice” but since quitting the cobbles last year, her options have opened up.
Catherine, who is “a massive fan” of the show, said: “I had spoken to [the show’s producers] before but it felt like this was the right time.
“It had to work for us as a family, and this is the right time.”
The actress, who is now starring in BBC comedy-drama Scarborough with Jason Manford, has admitted she “can’t really dance” but is hoping to hone her skills on Strictly.
She is also keen to find out whether she has the kind of the muscle fibres that are more suited to endurance activities or short bursts of energy. Catherine said: “The group dance [that viewers will see tonight] is a jive. It is really fast and I am, like, ‘Woah!’
“Apparently people are born with either fast fibres or slow fibres and I think I was born with slow fibres so I am hoping I will be better with the waltz!”
The dreaded Strictly curse has seen a number of celebrity relationships end in tatters as the contestants get close to their dance partners.
But RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage, 50, insisted that her husband is “the love of my life” and added: “It makes me laugh that people think this curse is a thing.” Comedian Chris Ramsey, 33, added: “Me and my wife have got one of the top UK podcasts. You think I am jeopardising that for any kind of fling?”
And 47-year-old Olympic rower James Cracknell split from wife Beverley Turner earlier this year but has a new partner.
He laughed off the curse by mocking his dance skills. James added: “You may not get to know your partner if you’re not in it for very long.”
BBC sports presenter Mike Bushell, 53, and Viscountess Emma Weymouth, 33, also said their partners were “excited” to see them taking part in the show.
Paralympian Will Bayley, 31, joked that he was “too ugly” to worry about the curse.
But some single contestants are keeping their fingers crossed there may be romance in the air.
Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin, 34, laughed: “It’s not one of the reasons I did it, but it’s not not a reason.” Last year’s Glitterball champ, documentary maker Stacey Dooley, 32, fell victim to the curse after growing close to dance partner Kevin Clifton. She split from her long-term boyfriend after appearing on the show and is now dating Kevin.
Singer Louise Redknapp, 44, also split from her husband – former footballer Jamie, 46 – after being linked to Kevin on the show in 2016. The professionals aren’t exempt from the curse, either.
Just last month, Neil and Katya Jones – who married in 2013 – announced they had split, months after Katya, 30, was photographed kissing her 2013 dance partner, 33-year-old comedian Seann Walsh. ● Strictly starts tonight on BBC One at 7.10pm.
VIEWERS across the country will dance with delight at the thought of Strictly returning to our screens tonight. It is a great British institution and a joyous spectacle of music, choreography, competition, hilarity, hugging and escapism that culminates in mesmerising displays of skill and beauty.
You can sense the entire country relaxing as the theme music starts. This is a rare show that brings all the family together and only the stoniest soul won’t be entertained by the sometimes zany exploits.
As the contestants are coupled up tonight, we will wish the dancing duos the very best as their adventure begins.