Strictly Come Dancing’s Aston Merrygold ditches wild child party days because of pregnant girlfriend
STRICTLY'S Aston Merrygold has ditched his bad boy days for dancing and dad-to-be duties ahead of the birth of his first child.
The JLS singer, who is battling for the Glitter Ball trophy in the BBC show, has very much mellowed since finding love with Sarah Richards.
The pair first saw sparks fly when the pretty blonde acted as the X Factor band's backing dancer on tour.
Sarah, who trained with former Strictly head judge Len Goodman, is expecting the couple's first baby in January and Aston, 29, took to his Twitter page in October to reveal the happy news.
The new chapter in his life called time on his wild child party days, which he admitted saw him "offered sex at least five times a day" as girls "threw themselves" at him.
Pals today Sarah had proved "the perfect mentor" for Aston, who dazzled with his Quickstep on last night's episode.
One said: “She is a brilliant dancer and has been wowing audiences since she was a child. She is the perfect mentor.
"He is living and breathing dancing.
"Even when he goes home he is consumed with it.”
They added: “Sarah is incredibly supportive and gives Aston a full breakdown of what he has done well and what needs improving."
Aston's ex girlfriend Natalia Rush, 28, also told The Mirror her former lover was "more settled."
Meanwhile as he switched to dad mode to reveal his happy news to fans, Aston wrote on Twitter: “Sar, I promise to be the best daddy ever to our baby boy/girl. You are amazing and going to be the greatest mum to our child!
"Thank you for making me the happiest man ever! I love you.
"Hurry up bump, we can’t wait to meet you.”
Meanwhile, The Brit-Award winning performer is adamant that none of his fellow professionals - including actor Davood Ghadami and TV presenter Ruth Langsford - will see their relationships fall victim to the infamous Strictly curse this year, despite the addition of several stunning new dancers, including former Playboy model Nadiya Bychkova.
He exclusively told The Sun: “All the girls are beautiful and so talented. It’s like Hollywood has been thrown onto the BBC.
“I get the Strictly curse but I’m sure half the time it comes from a seed that gets planted somewhere from a fifth party and becomes embedded. Like someone reads a comment on Twitter and goes, ‘Oh, what I have done?’
“But not this year. I think everyone is more than happy and concentrating on their dancing. I’m like, ‘Alright guys! No, I’m not! It’s all about the dance for me’.
“Janette is amazing and I went for dinner with her and Sarah the other day.”
Yet on the dancefloor things might be a little less rosy.
Aston and Jeanette came under fire after last night's show as fans suggested the judges had over-marked their speedy routine.
Having topped the leaderboard already this series, Aston has been a firm favourite of the judges, but this week they seemed a bit disappointed.
His footwork and placement was picked up on by the panel, but he still went on to receive 32 points including a nine from Bruno Tonioli.
But the mixed comments followed by a good score angered many watching, who took to Twitter to blast the judges.
One wrote: "I love Aston to bits but that quickstep wasn't anywhere near worth a 9..." while another added: "Aston slightly overmarked there".
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