Reality TV star Dani Dyer has made a startling confession, revealing she explicitly forbade her Premier League footballer partner, Jarrod Bowen, from accepting any offer to join the cast of Strictly Come Dancing. The reason? The show's notorious and seemingly unstoppable 'Strictly Curse'.
In a candid revelation, the former Love Island winner admitted the mere thought of the Bowen donning sequins and stepping into the dance studio filled her with dread. The infamous 'curse' refers to the pattern of relationships disintegrating after one partner spends an intense period training in close quarters with a professional dancer.
'My Anxiety Would Be Through The Roof'
Dyer didn't mince her words about the potential impact on their relationship. "I'd have to say no. I'd have to," she stated emphatically. "My anxiety would be through the roof. I'd be a wreck."
She pointed to the sheer amount of time contestants are required to spend with their dance partners, a recipe for temptation that has proven too much for many previous celebrities. "You hear about the 'Strictly Curse'... I just don't think I could deal with it," Dyer added, highlighting the very real fear that has plagued the show's reputation for years.
A Curse That Haunts The Ballroom
The 'Strictly Curse' is no mere myth. It has a long and well-documented history of striking down relationships, both married and dating. High-profile casualties include:
- Ben Cohen: The rugby star split from his wife of 11 years after his 2013 stint on the show.
- Louise Redknapp: Her participation in 2016 is widely cited as a factor in the subsequent end of her 19-year marriage to Jamie Redknapp.
- Seann Walsh: His 2018 training sessions with Katya Jones culminated in a kiss that ended his relationship and her marriage.
For Dani Dyer and Jarrod Bowen, who share newborn twins, the risk was simply too great. While Bowen, a key player for West Ham United, has yet to receive the call from Strictly producers, Dyer's preemptive veto ensures the football star will be staying well away from the glitterball for the foreseeable future.
