Stacey Dooley is an English television presenter, journalist, documentary filmmaker, media personality, and author. The 32-year-old has created a number of social issue documentaries for the BBC over the years, mostly about child labour and women in developing countries. She became a national sweetheart after she won the sixteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 with her dance partner Kevin Clifton. But how did it come to be that Stacey became the latest victim of the Strictly curse?
Stacey Dooley joined Matt Baker as the latest guest presenter on The One Show yesterday, covering for Alex Jones while she is on her maternity leave.
The documentary maker became hugely popular after winning Strictly Come Dancing last year – but it was not only her Fox Trot and Paso Doble that hit the headlines.
When a relationship between Stacey and her dance partner Kevin developed beyond the dancefloor, the two began the subjects of much curiosity.
And in the end, Stacey split from her long-term boyfriend to be with the Strictly pro.
Stacey Dooley boyfriend: How did Strictly dancing partners Stacey and Kevin Clifton get involved? (Image: GETTY/BBC)
But how exactly did the couple get together?
On August 16, 2018, Stacey was revealed to be a contestant in the sixteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing – where she was partnered with Kevin Clifton.
The dancer has been married three times to three different dancers – his latest wife was dancer Karen Clifton who he married in 2015.
However, the couple confirmed in March 2018 they were no longer together romantically.
Stacey Dooley boyfriend: Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton spotted together in October 2018 (Image: IAN LAWRENCE/GC IMAGES)
This year, Mr Clifton and Miss Dooley confirmed that they were dating.
While Mr Clifton had previously announced he was separated from his wife before he began dancing with Stacey, her relationship status has been questioned.
During the time of filming, Stacey was still with her live-in partner Sam Tucknott – although she insists there was no overlap in those relationships
Over the years, it has been claimed the BBC One show has been the cause of several relationship break-ups or scandals and therefore has been named the “Strictly curse”.
Stacey Dooley boyfriend: Stacey Dooley is a documentary filmmaker (Image: KARWAI TANG/WIREIMAGE/GETTY)
Victims of the Strictly curse include comedian Seann Walsh and his married dance partner Katya Jones who were photographed kissing in the street during a night out, Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole, the latter splitting from his fiancee Camilla Dallerup during the show as rumours circulated that he was getting close to Natasha, and Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff, who broke up with his girlfriend of five years before he dated Kristina for four years.
Recently Stacey Dooley has shared details about her life with boyfriend Kevin Clifton who she said is “amazing”, adding she’s “very lucky” in her first interview about their life together.
While Stacey maintains there was no overlap between her ex-Sam and new love Kevin, Sam reportedly branded Kevin a “snake” and accused him of making a move on Stacey when the couple were still together.
Stacey Dooley boyfriend: Stacey Dooley and her dance partner and now boyfriend Kevin Clifton (Image: NEIL MOCKFORD/GC IMAGES/GETTY)
Stacey told The Guardian: “Kev and I have agreed not to go into too much detail about our private lives because you can’t really indulge that and then ask for privacy.
“That’s why we’ve turned down interviews that have offered us tens of thousands of pounds.
“What I am happy to say is Kev’s amazing, I’m happy, life happens, I’ve got an amazing career and I’m very lucky.”
Stacey Dooley boyfriend: Stacey Dooley was the winner of last year’s Strictly competition (Image: GETTY)
Before the couple split Stacey and Sam had lived together with their bulldog called Bernie in a shared flat in Brighton.
Speaking about the division of assets she said: “It would be irresponsible of me to take Bernie because I’m never here.
“Sam is amazing with him, and if I wanted to see Bernie, he would let me.”
The couple first hit the headlines when ex-boyfriend Sam spoke to the press about messages he claimed to have found from Kevin on Stacey’s phone.
Stacey Dooley boyfriend: Kevin Clifton at The Olivier Awards in 2019 (Image: EAMONN M. MCCORMACK/GETTY)
Around that time, Stacey tweeted about this incident, saying: “Anyone with any adult life experience knows there are two sides to every story.
“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 very much and only wish him happiness and success going forward.”
Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC in September.