Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton will not be ‘axed’ from the show, as his contract guarantees him a celebrity partner, a report suggests.
Last week it was claimed that BBC bosses have dropped Katya Jones as a contestant from Strictly’s upcoming seventeenth series.
While she remains part of the roster of professionals, this means she would only appear as part of group performances.
The move is reportedly a result of the controversy surrounding her kiss with Seann Walsh.
After the story broke, speculation began over whether Kevin – who won last year’s series alongside Stacey Dooley – would face the same fate.
The pair are currently the target of their own tabloid backlash over allegations that Stacey dumped her boyfriend for Kevin.
However, it seems that, unlike Katya, the Grimsby star isn’t at risk of demotion.
According to The Sun, Kevin’s latest contract with the Beeb stipulates that he must compete in the next series with a celeb partner.
A Strictly spokesperson kept quiet on the matter, telling the Daily Express that they “don’t comment on artists’ contracts”.
The news came after it was reported that Kevin has parted ways with his management.
“When Kevin’s relationship with Stacey went public, the agents were stunned as Kevin told them nothing about it,” a source told The Sun.
“They met with Kevin and told him they no longer wanted to work with him after their current projects.”
Kevin is currently appearing in the nationwide Burn The Floor tour alongside Graziano Di Prima.
He is therefore too busy to take part in the latest Strictly Come Dancing Professionals Tour, which kicks off later this week.
Kevin recently told how he almost quit Strictly due to personal struggles.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on BBC One.
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