Claudia Winkleman understands 'intoxicating' Strictly romance as star 'fell in love'
ok.co.ukThe infamous Strictly Come Dancing 'curse' doesn't at all surprise the competition's co-host Claudia Winkleman. Over the years, high-profile names such as Kevin Clifton, Katya Jones, Diane Buswell, Seann Walsh, Rachel Riley and Stacey Dooley were each swept up in series romances - some even going beyond a quick fling and into parenthood, in the case of Kevin, 40, and Stacey, 36 - despite often boasting established relationships back at home.
Weighing in on the subject with The Sun, Claudia, 51, previously theorised: "I understand [the pressure], it's very intense.
I don't believe in the curse, but I think lots of people have come in single and they might have met somebody or had a little romance. "It's intoxicating, Strictly, because you're all part of this extraordinary juggernaut.
So I don't think people fall in love with people, they might just love the experience." This comes in the wake of 2021 finalist John Whaite's loved-up confession regarding dance partner Johannes Radebe, who revealed that he and fiance Paul Atkins briefly split up once the programme had concluded. "When you’re physically pressed against another man for 10 hours a day, things move emotionally… I fell in love with him," the 34 year old said. "I can’t speak for him – because I’m not allowed to, legally – but it felt like there was love there." Apparently, the Great British Bake Off champion of 2012 discussed his feelings for pro Johannes, 36, "all the way through" his Strictly journey. "Paul of all people deserved to understand how I was feeling.
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