Hearts of Strictly Come Dancing fans up and down the nation could be heard breaking on Friday, as one of the show’s favourite professional dancers, Kevin Clifton, announced he was quitting.
Posting a statement on Instagram, Kevin revealed his wish to “leave on a high” following seven memorable years on the BBC ballroom series.
After joining in 2013, he went on to reach five Strictly finals before lifting the Glitterball trophy for the first time in 2018 with documentary presenter Stacey Dooley, who he is now in a relationship with.
In celebration of “King Kev’s” dancefloor tenure, we’re looking back on the pro dancer’s best routines ever...
Stacey Dooley’s Paso Doble (2018)
Stacey and Kevin’s Paso was so iconic, it even took on its own nickname when it became known as the Paso Dooley.
The routine proved to be a real turning point for Stacey in the competition, helping to mark her out as one of the frontrunners. It proved to be similarly lucky when they reprised it in the 2018 final and won.
Kellie Bright’s Charleston (2015)
There’s nothing quite like Movie Week for making the professionals think outside the box, but Kevin was consistently one to pull it out of the bag – as he demonstrated with his Charleston with EastEnders star Kellie Bright, which took on a Star Wars theme, complete with light-sabres.
Frankie Bridge’s Tango (2014)
Musicals week on Strictly isn’t always for everyone, but there was no denying how Wicked-ly brilliant this routine set to Defying Gravity was.
Susanna Reid’s Paso Doble (2013)
Kevin seems to have a talent when it comes to the Paso Doble, as his routine with Susanna Reid (six years prior to his one with Stacey) proved to another big moment in her Strictly journey, helping the then-BBC Breakfast presenter bag her highest score of the series, with 39/40.
Stacey Dooley’s Jive (2018)
Of all the things we’ve seen on Strictly over the last 16 years, the sight of Kevin and Stacey covered in yellow make up and dressed as Minions as they danced the Jive, this routine was definitely up there. It really was “bananas”, but in the best possible way.
Susan Calman’s Quickstep (2017)
Kevin has had great chemistry with every partner he’s been paired with on Strictly, but there was something extra special about the bond he shared with comedian Susan Calman.
By her own admission, Susan wasn’t the best mover, but Kevin used their friendship to build her confidence and find the hidden dancer in her, producing this charming Quickstep, which saw Susan bag her highest score on the show, with 30/40.
Louise Redknapp’s Argentine Tango (2016)
Dramatic, theatrical and passionate, this routine will forever be one of the best Argentine Tangos Strictly has ever seen.
What was also amazing about it was that Louise had struggled to properly come out of her shell prior to taking it on, and it was a credit to Kevin’s skills as a teacher that she was then seen as a potential finalist after performing it.
Kellie Bright’s Showdance (2015)
You just can’t beat a good showdance, and Kevin’s creation for Kellie’s final performance was old school razzmatazz, and we LOVED it.
Anneka Rice’s Cha Cha (2019)
Yes, we know that Anneka wasn’t the most blessed in the dance department, but Kevin proved that he was always able to find something to work with when he was paired up with the presenter in 2019 – even if that thing was comedy.
Strictly Come Dancing's Biggest Feuds And Fall-Outs
Fern Britton and Artem Chigvintsev(01 of13)
Open Image ModalFern and Artem danced together in series 10, just missing out on the halfway point when they went home in week six.
In 2015, she claimed that she hadn’t enjoyed working with Artem, claiming he used to “kick” and “shove” her during rehearsals, also suggesting: “He was like, ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you’.
“I would say, ‘Oh please just kill me, it would be easier’. Or what was his other one? ‘If you go for a cup of tea now, I will blow off like an atomic bomb.’ I thought, well I won’t correct him on that one.”
Artem later claimed Fern’s comments were not reflective of “any situation he recognised”, insisting he treated the former This Morning host with “respect and genuine care”. (credit:BBC)
Lynda Bellingham and Darren Bennett(02 of13)
Open Image ModalThe late Loose Women star lasted four weeks in the competition back in 2009, where she was partnered with Darren Bennett.
A year after her death, Lynda’s widower Michael Pattemore gave an interview claiming she “hated” her experience on the dancing show.
“She said her partner Darren Bennett was such a miserable git. There was no laughter, no fun,” he explained. “All the way through rehearsals she didn’t mind training hard, but it was solid dance. He was just hard work. If Lynda had had a partner like Anton Du Beke or someone, now they would have had some fun together.” (credit:BBC)
Gregg Wallace and Aliona Vilani(03 of13)
Open Image ModalThe Masterchef star was the first celebrity eliminated from his series, which he put down to the fact that his professional partner wasn’t exactly his biggest fan.
“I love dancing, but if I were paired with somebody who liked me then I would have done better,” he said.
Following their elimination, Aliona also retweeted a number of messages calling for her to get a better partner in future series, with select messages including “could someone please give Aliona a decent partner next year”.
As it goes, the following year would see her lifting the Glitterball trophy with help from former The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness. (credit:BBC)
Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice(04 of13)
Open Image ModalDanny John-Jules and Amy Dowden(05 of13)
Open Image ModalLaila Rouass and Anton Du Beke(06 of13)
Open Image ModalIn what was genuinely a low-point for Strictly Come Dancing, Anton Du Beke made headlines during an early series of the show, when he used a racial slur to describe his partner during an off-air conversation.
Anton later issued a statement insisting he’d only used the term “p**i” towards her as backstage “banter” (his words, not ours), and unreservedly apologised for his choice of language.
Former Strictly host Sir Bruce Forsyth later took a bit of heat after the scandal, when he claimed that Anton hadn’t done anything wrong.He said at the time: “We used to have a sense of humour about this. You go back 25, 30, 40 years and there has always been a bit of humour about the whole thing.
”The presenter was later forced to backtrack in a more official capacity, with a statement saying: “To be absolutely clear, the use of racially offensive language is never either funny or acceptable.” (credit:PA)
Anastacia and Brendan Cole(07 of13)
Open Image ModalBack in 2016, Brendan was forced to deny reports that he was bickering behind the scenes with his then-partner Anastacia, telling Digital Spy: “We’ve definitely had some conversations, I won’t lie about that.“I think we’re both two very strong-minded individuals in a process, but we get along very, very well.”Two years later, Anastacia revealed she was still in touch with “pretty much everyone” from Strictly, apart from her professional partner.“We don’t have that kind of connection. It was just for the show,” she said. (credit:BBC)
Nancy Dell'Olio and Anton Du Beke(08 of13)
Open Image ModalLulu and Brendan Cole(09 of13)
Open Image ModalThat same year, another couple were apparently clashing behind the scenes, with Lulu and Brendan Cole both later revealing their working relationship wasn’t the best.
Brendan has suggested the Shout singer was “not a particularly nice person” when they worked together, and has since branded her his worst ever partner during an interview on Loose Women.
“Blooming awful,” he said. “But she felt the same about me, so it’s alright.” (credit:BBC)
Kelvin Fletcher and Oti Mabuse(10 of13)
Open Image ModalMichelle Visage and Giovanni Pernice(11 of13)
Open Image ModalBrendan Cole and Shirley Ballas(12 of13)
Open Image ModalFiona Phillips and Brendan Cole(13 of13)
Open Image ModalAfter Brendan was axed from the show, Fiona said in an interview with the Daily Star that the move was "karma" as he "wasn't very nice" towards her when they were partnered together back in 2005."Brendan was a real bugger, actually," she claimed. "He wasn’t very nice. He was really naughty.“He’s not on the show now. Karma indeed. It works its way every time.” (credit:BBC)