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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Lucy Needham & Kate Lally

Strictly's doomed pairs and the blazing rows viewers didn't see

Strictly Come Dancing will finally return to our screens tonight, promising to entertain us every weekend all the way until Christmas.

The season premiere was due to launch on Saturday, September 17, but was delayed in the wake of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The nation was in mourning after Her Majesty died aged 96 on Thursday, September 8.

As ever, we can expect to see a star-studded line-up, with a few changes in place too.

READ MORE: Loose Women's Kaye Adams supported by co-stars as she shares Strictly admission

With covid restrictions eased, the blocky glass panels will be removed for good and judges will be free to interact with one another as much as they please. The judging line-up will also undergo a shakeup as Anton Du Beke will be taking over Bruno Tonioli's role as a permanent judge.

In the quest for the coveted glitterball trophy, a good partnership is everything with BBC bosses working hard to create harmonious pairings between the crop of professional dancers and celebrity hopefuls. And while some get on famously, there have been tensions in a number of couplings in series' gone by.

There have been fallouts, tears and even one or two romances. There have even been reports of couples "hating" each other.

Ahead of tonight's launch, we've taken a look back at some of the behind-the-scenes drama over the years, as reported in the Mirror.

Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice (Series 14, 2016)

Laura Whitmore and dance partner Giovanni Pernice (BBC)

Giovanni had been dating Laura's pal, soap star Georgia May Foote, until just before training started for the 2016 season of the show. Despite a history with Giovanni, Love Island host Laura did not warm to the Italian.

In a blog on HuffPost she said: "I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with – and in the end I felt broken. I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.

"To the outside world I tried to suck it up and smile, and I did that to the best of my ability, but it affected me deeply. My friends and family knew that I was struggling. And they were there for me."

Lynda Bellingham and Darren Bennett (Series seven, 2009)

Lynda Bellingham and her dance partner Darren Bennett (Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)

The late Loose Women star Lynda hid her dislike for strictly dance partner Darren very well, according to her widower Michael Pattermore. Speaking about his late wife's time on the show, Michael revealed that Linda's didn't think too highly of Darren and even called him a "miserable git".

According to Michael, Lynda despised Darren's teaching style which she complained existed of solid dance and zero fun. He said: "Even when they went out for a cup of coffee afterwards, she said the guy was just blank.

"All the way through rehearsals she didn’t mind training hard, but it was solid dance. He was just hard work. If Lynda had had a partner like Anton Du Beke or someone, now they would have had some fun together."

Luckily, the pair didn't have to spend too long together as they were evicted in 13th place.

Fern Britton and Artem Chigvintsev (Series ten, 2012)

Fern Britton and Artem Chigvintsev (BBC/Guy Levy)

Former This Morning host Fern hit out at her dance partner Artem claiming he would ''shove' her in rehearsal and that they bickered constantly. She alleged that the Russian professional once told her "Go home before I kill you."

She joked: "I would say, 'Oh please just kill me, it would be easier'. Or what was his other one? ‘If you go for a cup of tea now, I will blow off like an atomic bomb.' I thought, well I won’t correct him on that one.

Artem denied the allegations saying in a statement: "I believe I treated Fern with respect and genuine care, and these claims about me are the opposite of everything I believe in and the person I am."

Judy Murray and Anton Du Beke (Series 12, 2014)

Judy Murray and Anton Du Beke didn't last long in the competition (BBC/Guy Levy)

Tennis momager Judy wasn't known for being the most graceful mover on the show, but she gave it her best shot.

However, sadly for Judy her partner Anton appeared to agree with the acid-tongued judges who savaged her attempts at the routines in each week.

Now-judge Anton was quoted as complaining: "She was s***. Why couldn't they have given me Pixie Lott?"

Kelly Brook and Brendan Cole (Series five, 2007)

Kelly Brook and Brendan Cole dancing the Rumba (BBC Pictures)

Model Kelly and bad boy of the dancefloor Brendan looked like a match made in Strictly heaven. However, behind the scenes the pair were reported to have clashed - including one furious row that allegedly kicked off backstage during Saturday night filming after Brandon "forgot" the steps to one of their dances.

It was apparently not the first time the pair came to blows, with a show source claiming Brendan infuriated Kelly by telling her that they were "definitely" not going to win. It can't have been all bad news however as the pair went on to reunite for a Christmas special five years later.

Steve Backshall and Ola Jordan (Series 12, 2014)

Ola Jordan and Steve Backshall (BBC/Guy Levy)

Celebs signing up for Strictly know they are in for a tough few months in the training room... if they are lucky to stay in that long. But TV star Steve was alleged to have told bosses that his teacher Ola was taking things way too far with her "strict" ways.

After awkward conversations, the pair did not stay on speaking terms after the show. Steve told reporters that he hadn't spoken to Ola for a "good while".

Gregg Wallace and Aliona Vilani (Series 12, 2014)

Gregg Wallace and Aliona Vilani (BBC/Kieron McCarron)

When MasterChef star Greg Wallace was the first celeb to be booted off the 2014 series, he came up with a theory as to why he didn't last very long.

He said: "I love dancing, but if I were paired with somebody who liked me then I would have done better". Controversially, teacher Aliona appeared to echo his opinions.

In the weeks that followed, the professional liked several posts on social media calling for her to be given a better partner in the next series. The following year she was paired with Jay McGuiness from The Wanted and the pair went on to victory.

Anastacia and Brendan Cole ( Series 14, 2016)

There was no love lost between Anastacia and Brendan Cole (BBC/Guy Levy)

US songstress Anastacia did not hide the fact that she and Brendan clashed in the training room. She said: "We’ve definitely had some conversations, I won’t lie about that.

“I think we’re both two very strong-minded individuals in a process, but we get along very, very well." Brendan denied reports of clashes during the series 14 run.

But two years later, in a stinging remark, Anastacia revealed she was still in touch with almost everyone from the show - apart from her former pro partner.

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