Ashley Roberts, 37, and her dance partner Pasha Kovalev, 38 took to the ballroom floor to perform their Showdance routine which left Ashley with a memorable beauty malfunction on Strictly Come Dancing 2018. The former Pussycat Doll teeth was covered in purple lipstick following her second performance on the night. Speaking to the Telegraph’s Strictly podcast, Dr Ranj Singh spoke with fellow hosts Rachel Ward, Chrissy Amer and Jess McAree about the minor incident. Chrissy asked: “Can we please talk about lipstick gate?”
She continued: “I was very, very upset. The poor thing got lipstick all over her teeth. It was after the Showdance. Yes on the front teeth that’s normal but actually on the back ones too. Honestly, totally impossible.”
The Telegraph journalist went onto explain, Strictly host Tess Daly did not follow “girl code” by not removing the lipstick from Ashley’s teeth.
Chrissy added: “Then she goes up to the Claudatourium and Claudia gets it off the tooth. Girl code. Tess left her for dead – it looked like teeth missing.”
Dr Ranj interjected with his own tale of following girl code as he recalled a similar lipstick gate incident with his Strictly dance partner Janette Manrara.
He said: “I remember being on the red carpet once with Janette for the Pride Of Britain awards and she had a bit of lipstick on her teeth.
“I was doing girl code. So like a mum I started to rub it off and there was a moment where we got pictured where I’ve got my hands in her mouth.
He finished: “I’ve just crossed a line haven’t I?”
Meanwhile, Ashley made headlines following her Strictly Come Dancing debut after it was reported the singer had got cosy with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice at the wrap party according to The Sun.
The pair have been at the centre of romance rumours for several weeks but both have insisted they are just good friends.
However, at the wrap party the pair are said to have been getting up close and personal.
“They felt they had to keep things quiet during the show but threw caution to the wind at the party,” an insider told The Sun.
“They couldn’t keep their hands off each other — full on snogging and touching in front of everyone.”
Last month, Ashley denied the pair were dating when she was quizzed on the nature of their relationship on This Morning.
“Giovanni and I are friends,” she said. “I’m really focused on the show.
“We’re just friends and I’m single. He’s a lovely guy, but we are not dating.”
Ashley revealed that she and Giovanni had been out for drinks together.