Pasha Kovalev insists ‘Strictly curse’ won’t ruin his relationship with Rachel Riley
The pair got together after meeting on the show in 2013
PASHA Kovalev insists that the so called 'Strictly curse' won't affect his relationship with Countdown maths-whiz Rachel Riley.
Pasha has been dating Riley for the past two years, having met her when they were partnered together on Strictly in 2014, when she was still married to her ex-husband.
However, as the new series of the hit BBC show kicks off the Russian dancer insists his relationship with Riley has never been better.
Speaking to he said: “Nothing could come between with what we have. I don’t even think about things like that. I don’t want to be with anyone else.”
He added: “Rachel is incredible. She is the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Rachel and Pasha met when they were paired together on the 2013 series of the show. Following her stint on the show she she announced in November that year that she was dating the dancer.
However she hit back at those who said her romance with Pasha was not the reason for the split.
She told at the time: “I don’t think there’s a ‘Strictly’ curse, but it does serve as a magnifying glass that shows up pre-existing fault lines. Jamie [her ex-husband] and I had been with one another since I was 19, and we are still good friends, it was all amicable and he’s been brilliant.”
related stories
Since the first series, rumours have been flying about Strictly romances.
It all started with Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole. Their dances were overshadowed by rumours of an affair.
During the eleventh series of Strictly, Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff were partnered.
The former rugby player had been married to Abby Blayney for 11 years at the time, however, they split after he finished the show. Ben and Kristina denied they were in a relationship for some time, but they welcomed their first child, Milena, in July.
Despite insisting they didn't get together until after he and his wife split up, Kristina has received a lot of criticism from Ben's ex-wife and mother-in-law.
The latest stars to fall foul of the Strictly curse was Georgia May Foote who split from Corrie co-star Sean Ward shortly after appearing on the show and started dating dancing partner Giovanni Pernice. However they split recently after a year of dating.
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing launched last week, with the show now taking a three-week break as this year’s couples prepare to hit the dance floor together for the first time.
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220