Chris Robshaw, the former England rugby captain, has entered the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup alongside his wife, opera singer Camilla Kerslake. The couple's involvement has already stirred controversy, with Kerslake publicly criticising the perceived advantage of experienced dancers on the show.
During the first live show, Robshaw and his professional partner Nadiya Bychkova performed a Samba to EMF's 'Unbelievable', scoring 14 points and finishing second from bottom on the leaderboard. In an Instagram post, Kerslake praised her husband's performance but highlighted the disparity in experience among contestants, referencing West End star Amber Davies and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, who have prior dance training.
Kerslake's comments came in response to a post by Love Island star Amber Gill, who called the experience differences 'unfair'. Kerslake agreed, stating 'the experience differences are absolutely wild'. Neither Davies nor Cope have ballroom or Latin training, but their performance backgrounds have sparked debate among fans.
Robshaw has joked about wanting fans to think he is affected by the 'Strictly curse' to generate interest, but insists his marriage is solid. He said: 'Camilla and I are solid, she's incredibly supportive, and we have a lot of trust in our marriage.'
Kerslake has taken proactive steps to avoid any curse-related gossip, inviting Bychkova over for dinner and building a friendship outside the show. A source told The Sun: 'She wants to start building a friendship outside of the show in a bid to stop any gossiping around the curse.'
