Reigning Strictly champion Stacey Dooley has shared a message of support for her boyfriend and former dancing partner Kevin Clifton, following his elimination from this year’s series.
Stacey and Kevin danced their way to victory in last year’s final, but this year he has not fared so well, bowing out on Sunday night after he and Anneka Rice failed to impress with their rather chaotic Charleston.
However, Stacey has insisted that Kevin should still be proud of his efforts, in a message she posted on her Instagram Story.
“I just wanted to say I am so proud of both of them. But particularly Kevin,” Stacey wrote. “I just think he is the most incredible teacher and I think she was so lucky to have had him. And she did that beautiful waltz.”
She added: “It’s very easy to be proud of someone when you are winning and when you are flying high and it’s all going brilliantly.
“But it’s also very important to tell them that you think they are wicked when they are the second to get knocked out. So yes, well done.”
Stacey and Kevin were first reported to be an item earlier this year, months after their time on Strictly came to an end.
Although the pair have both remained fairly tight-lipped about their romance, Stacey did tell 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.”
