ITV presenter Ben Shephard has confessed that his wife has effectively banned him from appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, citing the infamous 'Strictly curse'. The This Morning host admitted he would love to take part but his spouse is not interested in him having an affair.
The so-called curse has a long history on the BBC dance show, with several celebrities ending relationships after becoming romantically involved with their dance partners. Notable examples include Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley, who met during the 2018 series, as well as Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev. Meanwhile, Seann Walsh split from his girlfriend after a publicised kiss with his dance partner Katya Jones.
Shephard, who has a degree in dance from university, previously spoke about the matter on Good Morning Britain. He said: 'My wife really doesn't want me to do Strictly. She’s not interested in me having an affair. I think she’s being very narrow-minded and it could be a great opportunity.'
Despite his wife's veto, Shephard remains hopeful that a negotiation can happen between the BBC and his spouse. He joked that he loves 'a bit of spangle and glamour' but acknowledged that as things stand, it is unlikely. Other rumoured contestants for the upcoming series include Georgia Toffolo and Ashley Cain, but Shephard will not be among them.
