Stacey Dooley’s ex-boyfriend has branded Kevin Clifton a “rat” in a new Strictly Come Dancing ‘curse’ scandal.
Stacey’s former partner Sam Tucknott has alleged that she dumped him for pro dancer Kevin following the series last year.
Stacey won the latest Strictly Come Dancing with pro dancer Kevin, lifting the glitterball in the final in December.
Sam says that he and Stacey split shortly after, claiming to have seen ‘flirty texts’ sent between her and Kevin.
In a lengthy interview with the Daily Mail newspaper, Sam branded Kevin a “proper rat” having seen him as a good friend before the relationship breakdown.
“Adults make their own choices. I just know that he is a slippery snake – a proper rat,” he said. “To have that relationship where you are best buddies, but then you start going cold because you start fancying their girlfriend – I hold no respect for him whatsoever.”
Sam says he confronted Kevin in a video call: “He went white. I just stuck it on him, ‘You’re an absolute rat. How you conducted yourself. Just a slippery, slimy snake.’
“He didn’t say a word. He looked petrified. He looked so shocked.”
Stacey has since taken to Twitter to break her silence on the reports.
“Anyone with any adult life experience knows there are 2 sides to every story,” she wrote. “I haven’t got the time or energy to correct some of the utter nonsense I’ve read on here.
“Re Sam, I loved him v much and only wish him happiness and success going forward.”
The ‘Strictly curse’
Over more than a decade on air, Strictly Come Dancing has found itself embroiled in a number of relationship scandals.
But while the show is regularly blamed for breaking up couples, it has also brought many together.
Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood recently described the supposed curse as a ‘blessing’.
He explained: “Some relationships blossom. I mean who would have ever thought that anyone would want Kristina Rihanoff? But Ben Cohen did and she had a baby with him so that’s a success story.
“Then there is Pasha [Kovalev, now with former show partner Rachel Riley].
“There is Flavia [Cacace, married to contestant Jimi Mistry]. We have had some amazing bonus that has changed people’s lives.”
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing will air in the autumn.
