The Strictly Curse claims its THIRTEENTH victim… as Louise Redknapp tells pals her marriage to Jamie is over
LOUISE Redknapp has told pals her marriage to footballer Jamie is over... which officially makes her the THIRTEENTH victim of the Strictly Curse.
The former pop star competed on the 2016 series of the BBC dancing show, but she has since seen her relationship crumble.
Fans of the programme will know that for every winner on-screen there are plenty of losers off it - contestants' and dancers' husbands, wives and long-term partners.
Since the show started 14 years ago, its gruelling rehearsal and filming schedule has tested scores of solid and loving relationships, leaving some damaged beyond repair.
It's also sparked new relationships between single contestants, but even they struggle to last the distance.
The Sun revealed that Louise, 42, has called time on her relationship after a rocky few months.
A friend said: “Louise told one of her closest friends she and Jamie had split.
“Louise was quite open about the fact the relationship was over.
“She mentioned how much time they had spent apart and that when she and Jamie had tried to spend time together, it hadn’t been good.
“It’s a very difficult situation because of their two children who they are both determined to protect.
“That’s why they’re not prepared to officially end the marriage or comment publicly.
“They hope time apart might fix things, even though that doesn’t look likely."
Here are other couples who have been affected by the Strictly Curse.
Daisy Lowe
Daisy Lowe became the first victim of the Strictly curse last year after splitting with her boyfriend Bradley 'Frankie' Wade.
The pair had been dating for five months but the pressure of Daisy's extra training put too much strain on the relationship.
There was no suggestion Aljaz is involved in the split.
Natasha Kaplinsky
Strictly's first champ in 2004, the newsreader split from Mike Barnard shortly after lifting the Glitterball Trophy.
She was forced to deny having a fling with dance partner Brendan Cole.
Brendan Cole
The Kiwi pro dumped fiancee and fellow dancer Camella Dallerup at the end of first series - when he was also caught up in rumours he had had a fling with Natasha Kaplinsky.
He is now married to model Zoe Hobbs.
Flavia Cacace
Sultry pro Flavia left her fellow pro dancer Vincent Simone and partnered up with EastEnders’ Matt Di Angelo (pictured) in real life.
The pair of them had competed in the 2007 series.
Matt Di Angelo
It seems what goes around comes around - after Flavia left Vincent for him, she left Matt for Jimi Mistry (pictured).
She was paired with the Corrie star in 2010, when she was still in a relationship with the 'Enders star.
However, just weeks after announcing her split from Matt, Flavia went public with Jimi and went on to marry him in December 2013.
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Rachel Riley
Countdown star Rachel and her 2013 partner Pasha Kovalev are now happily loved-up.
She was adamant that he wasn't to blame for the end of her marriage to Jamie Gilbert - but to some people, these claims simply didn't add up.
Ali Bastian
The former Hollyoaks star and the dancer got together in 2009.
They were both single at the time, but they were then hit by the Strictly Curse when they split up a year later
Susanna Reid
Gorgeous Susanna was a BBC Breakfast host when she reached the final in 2013.
Shortly after, she ended her 15-year relationship with Dominic Cotton.
Now she presents Good Morning Britain with Piers Morgan, which some might say is another dose of bad luck.
Kara Tointon
Former EastEnders star Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev were partnered up in 2010, and won the whole series due to their chemistry.
After the show they moved in together but they were inevitably hit by the Strictly Curse, and announced their split in 2013.
Joe Calzaghe
The hunky Welsh boxer KO’d his five-year relationship with Jo-Emma Larvin and fell for Kristina Rihanoff within days of being paired in 2009.
Their passionate romance was the start of the creation of 'Siberian Siren' Kristina's reputation as a home wrecker.
However after they split in 2013, Kristina said Joe “found it difficult when I danced with other men."
Ben Cohen
Rugby hunk Ben divorced wife Abby, mum to their twin daughters, and now lives with his 2013 partner Kristina Rihanoff.
He claims that Kristina - who last year gave birth to their daughter Milena - wasn't anything to do with his marriage break-down.
It was a bitter divorce, with Abby saying: “I’m Ben Cohen’s ex-wife. If it wasn’t for that woman me and Ben would still be married. But so what? I’m moving on.
“I don’t want to talk about being the ditched wife. Ben’s getting on with his life. I wish him well with his new family.”
Georgia May Foote
The Curse struck with Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice., who she got with after dumping Corrie co-star and boyfriend Sean Ward.
Georgia and Giovanni were runner-up in the 2015 series, with her ditching Sean shortly after.
Giovanni and Georgia were then spotted "openly kissing" on a romantic trip to Disneyland Paris - despite the pair constantly denying they were a couple throughout the competition.
However, after a few months things fizzled out, which according to Georgia was amicable - and they wished each other well for the future.