Motsi Mabuse understands Strictly curse - as she left husband for dance partner

The Strictly Come Dancing curse has plagued the BBC show since it began way back in 2004.

And while many dismiss the curse’s existence, judge Motsi Mabuse admits she understands how it can happen – as she left her husband to marry her dance partner.

The South African dancer, 38, married German dancer Timo Kulczak in 2003 when she was 22 years old, after they met four years before at the Blackpool Dance Festival.

However, after 11 years together, Motsi fell for her dance partner Evgenij Voznyvk, with the judge saying: ‘Three years later whoosh! And then I was married.’

After winning the German Latin American title in 2013, Motsi and Ukrainian Evgenij retired with a final rumba on the German version of Strictly – and it was then that Motsi knew she had feelings for her partner.

She told The Sun: ‘We stopped and it was then that we realised that we wanted to do more than just dance together.’

Motsi and Timo split, and in 2017, the star – whose sister is Strictly pro Oti Mabuse – married Evgenij in 2017.

So Motsi has plenty of sympathy for those struck by the dreaded Strictly curse.

She said: ‘You know, if you work in this sort of world, adult things happen. Everyone goes for a drink and, whoops-a-daisy!’

Over the years, numerous couples have been formed on the BBC One show, with multiple celebrities leaving their partners for professional dancers, or splitting from their long-time loves after competing.

Last year, Seann Walsh was dumped by his girlfriend of five years after he was pictured kissing partner Katya Jones – who split from husband Neil months later.

Stacey Dooley also split from boyfriend of three years Sam Tucknott after winning the 2018 Glitterball, and is now dating her pro partner Kevin Clifton.

Dianne Buswell split from actor Anthony Quinlan, only to start dating her celeb partner Joe Sugg, while Louise Redknapp’s 18-year marriage to Jamie ended after she competed on the 2016 series.

Georgia May Foote broke up with Corrie co-star Sean Ward to date partner Giovanni Pernice; and shortly after competing on the show, Ben Cohen split from his wife of 11 years, Abby – going on to have a baby with his pro partner Kristina Rihanoff.

And while it looks like the class of 2019 has escaped the dreaded curse, two members of the cast are believed to be having a secret romance behind the scenes.

This weekend will see Kelvin Fletcher, Karim Zeroual and Emma Barton fight to be crowned Strictly 2019 champion, after Chris Ramsey left the competition on Sunday night.

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday night at 7.05pm on BBC One.

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