Brendan Cole says speculation of Kelvin and Oti ‘Strictly curse’ can ruin lives

Brendan Cole has opened up about the effects of the ‘Strictly curse’, admitting the speculation of a relationship between dance partners can ‘ruin lives’.

The former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, 43, spoke out on the speculation around Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse, something the pair have denied.

The so-called Strictly curse was coined after several relationships ended up splitting around the time one half of the couple appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, and got together with their dance partner.

Brendan himself was one of the first who appeared to fall victim to the curse, after splitting with his girlfriend and former dancing partner Camilla Dallerup when he was paired with Natasha Kaplinsky.

He admitted on Lorraine that the rumours – even if untrue- can be very damaging to a relationship, explaining: ‘You have to be careful. The thing about Strictly is, you are in a relationship with your dance partner, of sorts.

‘Whatever kind of relationship that is, we don’t necessarily know. Take lovely Oti and Kelvin this week, they’ve been pictured going to the hotel for the big party with all the other guys.

‘This sort of thing ruins lives. His wife Liz, Oti’s husband Marius, they’ve got children Liz and Kelvin, the rumours that fly around, it’s hopefully not true, there’s nothing going on.’

When Lorraine told Brendan that Kelvin had denied there was anything going on, he responded: ‘You do have to be careful but you create chemistry together, and Kelvin and Oti will probably be lifelong friends because they have been through something so… they won it.

‘They’ve done the whole thing, of course they’re going to be close friends. Occasionally it does go slightly differently, I think it was just seen on Dancing On Ice that two people got together and after two months they’re getting married. Wow.’

Describing why it happens sometimes Brendan admitted: ‘It’s not like an office romance, it’s not like where you see somebody across the table and you go “oh she’s quite nice” and you meet them at the lunch room.

‘You’re close right from the start, you are holding hands, you’re going through something so personal and very emotional, that’s the thing.’

Lorraine airs weekdays from 9pm on ITV.

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