Don't believe that piffle about a curse – sometimes true love blooms.
Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole
Way back in 2004, newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky was single when she appeared on Strictly and got paired with pro Brendan Cole – who happened to be engaged to fellow dancer Camilla Dallerup. You may remember how this goes.
Camilla and Brendan broke up amid rumours of a fling (denied by Natasha and Brendan), but all three ultimately found love after the series finished. Natasha married Justin Bower in 2005 and has a son and a daughter with him, while Brendan and his wife Zoe Hobbs, who got married in 2010, also have a daughter and a son together. And Camilla is now married too, so maybe everyone ended up happy after all?
Relationship status: Split
Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace
Flavia Cacace was in a relationship with fellow dancer Vincent Simone – who she'd been dancing with since she was just 14 years old – when she was paired up with EastEnders hunk Matt Di Angelo in 2007.
After Vincent and Flavia's split, the pair ended up together for three years – we'll get to how that ended shortly – and Flavia admitted it was a bit of a disaster. She later said: "It all happened in the most atrocious way. My relationship with Matt was really hyped up, which was very painful for Vincent."
Ouch.
Relationship status: Split
Flavia Cacace and Jimi Mistry
So after being with Matt for three years, Flavia soon found herself at the centre of another love story on the show. She fell for actor Jimi Mistry after they danced together on Strictly, and admitted she "couldn't believe it", worrying she'd get a bit of a reputation.
Thankfully, she hasn't had any regrets, as they married in 2013 and remain happily in love, which is nice!
Relationship status: Married
Ola and James Jordan
Ola and James Jordan were already three years into their marriage when they both joined Strictly as pros back in 2006. While many romances – as we can tell from this collection of couplings – have been strained by the show, these two lovebirds have stood the test of time and the ballroom, and they're celebrating 15 years together this year.
Relationship status: (Still) Married
Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna
Actress Ali met dancer Brian when they were paired together on the show nearly a decade ago. They were both single at the time, but although they hit it off, they broke up a year later.
Ali confirmed her engagement to musician Tom Clay back in 2013, while her former flame appears to be single at the moment.
Relationship status: Split
Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev
Kara and Artem appeared to have the winning formula both on and off the dance floor when they met on the show in 2010. They went on to win it and were together for three years before they broke up in 2013.
Kara has kept any romances under wraps since their high-profile split, although she was spotted hand-in-hand with a mystery man this time last year. Artem struck up a relationship with Torrey DeVitto in 2016, but they split the following year.
Relationship status: Split
Aljaz Skorjanec and Janette Manrara
Like Ola and James, Aljaz and Janette were already an item when they joined Strictly back in 2013, and they're still going strong after getting married last year. Aljaz has said in the past: "We don't get jealous of each other's bond with celebrity partners because we understand that dancing can be emotional, but we also know how well suited and in love we are."
Relationship status: Married
Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff
Back in 2009, Kristina Rihanoff found herself getting close to boxer and celeb partner Joe Calzaghe on the show, and he soon split with his girlfriend Jo-Emma Larvin. The pair didn't waste any time starting their own on/off relationship, but things came to an end in 2013 – and anyone who follows Strictly knows exactly where this is going.
Relationship status: Split
Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff
This romance sparked a bona fide scandal, after then-single Kristina was paired with then-married Ben Cohen – who left wife Abby Blayney heartbroken when they divorced in 2014. Ben and Kristina subsequently got together, and are still going now as parents to baby daughter Milena.
Relationship status: Together
Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
When Countdown's Rachel Riley appeared on Strictly nearly five years ago, she had just got married to millionaire Jamie Gilbert, and everything seemed pretty rosy. But no, the Strictly curse returned. They separated in 2013, Rachel then ended up with her pro partner Pasha Kovalev, and they're still happy and loved up.
Not surprisingly, Rachel has rubbished the idea of an actual curse – but she DID admit that being on the show can speed things along if a relationship is already showing some cracks.
Do we reckon the Strictly Nudge would catch on?
Relationship status: Together
Giovanni Pernice and Georgia May Foote
It was 2015 when Corrie star Georgia May Foote – two years into a relationship with co-star Sean Ward – was paired with pro Giovanni Pernice, and they had undeniable chemistry as they grooved their way to the runners-up spot. Around this time, Georgia broke up with Sean, but she and Gio denied claims they had sparked a romance of their own.
Eventually, Georgia and Giovanni did get together, but their hectic work schedules meant it just wasn't going to last and they went their separate ways after less than a year together.
Relationship status: Split
Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez
Although it had been rumoured for practically forever – alright, a few months, same thing – Gemma Atkison and Gorka Marquez only recently confirmed they were actually an item. On Valentine's Day earlier this year, love was well and truly in the air as they finally told us what we'd already sort of figured out.
They've since moved in together, and look set to live happily ever after.
Relationship status: Together
Dating Naked 2024 cast now: What's happened since?
All you need to know about Gladiators series 2
Bring the Drama has one thing The Apprentice needs
I Kissed a Boy does something Love Island hasn't
