I was on Strictly Come Dancing – here’s who I think will win it and opens up on the infamous curse

STRICTLY Come Dancing star John Whaite has revealed who he thinks will win the new series of the BBC reality show.

The buff cook's choice might surprise some as he's gone against the bookies favourites Zara McDermott and Bobby Brazier.

Instead, John is rooting for the odlest contestant in the show's history: Angela Rippon, 78.

Speaking to Christine Lampard on today's Lorraine, he said: “My money’s on Angela Rippon!

“It’s about damn time, a mature woman. But you don't know, she might get embroiled in a Strictly curse. You never know, I’m clutching my pearls at her!”

Angela could be a dark horse this year as she does have performance pedigree and is a very active septuagenarian who can still do the splits and high kicks.

John also had his say on the show's infamous curse, so coined because of the amount of romances it has wrecked.

The star, who is in a relationship with Paul Atkins, was linked to his dance partner Johannes Radebe while on the programme, but they were and remain very good friends.

He said: “What I have to say is how blooming great it is that the gays are getting embroiled in the Strictly scandal! 

“Because before, we were just on the sidelines, but now, the gays are involved in the Strictly curse. So for me, this is a sign of progress.”

Speaking on why he decided to share how he felt about Johannes, in his new book, John said: ”The reason I’ve spoken about that story and specifically with Johannas’ consent and my partner's consent - I haven't written anything that people didn’t want me to write. 

“The reason I’ve spoken about that story is to illustrate the point that, life is difficult.

“We are fragile human beings and our hearts sometimes can be torn into two, and sometimes you have to take stock and just think to yourself, ‘Who am I, what [are] my values, and how do I get back to that?’” 

John went on, “And the point of the whole book is a story of love.

“Like if it weren't for my partnership with Paul, where we speak candidly and honestly about how we feel, I don't know where I would be in life.”

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