Strictly Come Dancing hunk Gleb Savchenko sensationally quits plunging show into chaos

STRICTLY Come Dancing bosses were in meltdown after hunky dancer Gleb Savchenko dramatically quit the show yesterday.

The pin-up star became the fourth dancer to walk away from the BBC’s flagship series, plunging it into crisis.

He said of his departure: “I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the last series of Strictly Come Dancing and especially the way that the UK gave me such a warm welcome but due to family commitments I won’t be returning to the show for the next series – I’ll definitely be tuning in though.”

Gleb’s dramatic exit comes just days before execs were planning to unveil promotional material for the latest series.

Last night Gleb told pals he was turning his back on the show to save his marriage.

The 32-year-old Russian fears the ‘curse of Strictly’ – which has ended so many celebrity relationships – could strike again.

And so he’s hanging up his dancing shoes for the sake of his marriage to Elena Samodanova, mother of his daughter Olivia.

In January, Gleb told of the blow to the show after Ola Jordan, Aliona Vilani and Kristina Rihanoff all quit.

He said: “They are three of the girls who had the most training and they have been very, very good.

“All three girls have amazing experience at teaching someone who has never danced before and making the most out of it.”

Aliona, 31, quit Strictly just days after winning the last series with Jay McGuiness.

The bombshell came after the married dancer faced criticism over her close friendship with The Wanted singer.

Ola, 33, quit soon after she had claimed the show was fixed. Kristina, 38, is pregnant with partner Ben Cohen’s child.

Gleb joined the BBC ratings hit last year and was paired with Countryfile presenter Anita Rani, 38.

With his model features, he became an instant hit with viewers.

The ‘Strictly curse’ claimed its first victim in 2004, with newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and her professional dance partner Brendan Cole, and hasn’t stopped since.

The news presenter and her professional dance partner were both in relationships at the time – Natasha with Mike Barnard and Brendan with fellow Strictly professional Camilla Dallerup.

However, the two had an affair and became the first couple to get together on the dance competition.

Georgia was dating her former Corrie co-star Sean Ward when she took part in Strictly Come Dancing 2015, but just after coming runner-up in the final with Giovanni, she dumped her boyfriend for the dancer.

Rachel Riley split from her millionaire husband of 15 months Jamie Gilbert just after her stint on Strictly in 2013.

At the time, the Countdown beauty insisted her professional dance partner Pasha Kovalev wasn’t involved.

However, Rachel and Pasha confirmed their relationship in 2014, and are still together now.

Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff were partnered together in the eleventh series of Strictly.

The former rugby player had been married to Abby Blayney for 11 years. But they announced their separation just after he finished competing.

Ben and Kristina denied they were in a relationship for, but were outed as a couple last July. She is due to give birth to their first child within weeks.

Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace got together in 2007, just after the show ended.

The dancer dumped her fellow professional and boyfriend Vincent Simone for the EastEnders actor.

But he pair split in 2010, and it was revealed Flavia was dating another celebrity dance partner a few weeks later.

When Jimi Mistry and Flavia were partnered together in 2010, Flavia was still with Matt.

But just weeks after announcing her split from the soap star, the sexy dancer got together with the Corrie actor. They married in December 2013.

Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff got together in 2009 after the boxer dumped his girlfriend just one week into the show.

The pair split in 2013 due to work commitments.

Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna got together in 2009.

The former Hollyoaks actress and her dance partner were both single at the time, but they were then hit by the ‘Strictly curse’ when they split up a year later.

Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev were paired together in 2010, and won the whole series due to their chemistry.

The former EastEnders actress and the dancer were living together in London until 2013 until they announced their split.

The latest Strictly series is rumoured to feature Ruth Langsford and her husband Eamonn Holmes.

A number of Z-list stars have been linked, including Corrie actor Ryan Thomas, YouTuber Louise Pentland, TV presenter Anna Richardson, doctors Chris and Xand Van Tulleken, singer Anastacia, Geordie Shore’s Charlotte Crosby and EastEnders’ actress Tameka Empson.