Strictly’s Jacqui Smith reveals she’s got a new boyfriend after split with husband and says Anton won’t break them up
STRICTLY Come Dancing's Jacqui Smith has revealed she's got a new boyfriend after splitting with her husband.
The former Home Secretary, 57, parted ways with her husband of 33 years Richard Timney in January this year.
In a new interview Jacqui has admitted to being in a new relationship - but "gorgeous" pro partner Anton du Beke won't let them fall to the Strictly curse.
Speaking to , the former Labour politician said: "I won't have it said that Anton is not gorgeous.
"But he is happily married and I am in a newish, but lovely, relationship. Trust us, there will be no Strictly curse."
The infamous curse is where people in relationships cheat with their dancing pro - and over the course of 18 series of the BBC favourite, nearly a dozen couples have split up thanks to their time on the show.
Jacqui announced her split from Richard - who she met at teacher training college - in a statement in January.
She said: "I'm enormously sad our 33-year partnership has come to an end but I'll always be grateful to Richard for the love, family and career we share."
Former economics teacher Jacqui became an MP for Redditch in 1997 at the age of 34.
She was appointed by Gordon Brown as Home Secretary in June 2007.
She later resigned from the post after she apologised for wrongly claiming £116,000 in second home allowances.
However, her husband was embroiled in the expenses scandal after it emerged Richard - who ran her constituency office on a wage of £40,000 a year - watched pay-per-view adult movies, which were then claimed back for reimbursement.
Jacqui has previously said she will be able to take the judge's criticism after being an MP for 13 years.
She said: “I would be very gutted if I was the first out. I’ve lost votes before.
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"The good thing about being a politician is you know what it’s like to be on the wrong end of democracy.”
She added: "I was an MP for 13 years, a minister for ten years, I faced plenty of criticism in my time.
"I hope that I will listen and learn but I have also argued for a living.”