Louise Redknapp couldn't have looked more pleased when she was put in the safe hands of Grimsby-born ballroom champ Kevin Clifton for her stint on Strictly Come Dancing 2016.
At the time Louise was seemingly happily married to hubby of 18 years Jamie Redknapp, while Kevin enjoyed a real life partnership with fellow dancer Karen Clifton.
Then less than 12 months after the pair waltzed their way to the final, Louise announced her shock divorce from Jamie with Kevin and Karen reaching the same conclusion just months later.
And now, despite their obvious closeness and continued support for each other, Louise had stunned fans by admitting they Louise Redknapp reveals she's cut all ties with ex-Strictly partner Kevin Clifton
So what went wrong for the former friends? We take a look back at their complicated history.
Louise and Kevin were first introduced on Strictly 2016, with the pair literally jumping for joy as Tess Daly revealed their partnership.
Following the announcement, football pundit Jamie was relentless teased by mates James Corden, Freddie Flintoff and Jack Whitehall over the so-called 'Strictly curse.'
"I could see Jamie getting angrier and angrier with the jokes," Louise said at the time, revealing how she and Jamie would have a good laugh together over any speculation she would cheat.
Louise Redknapp reveals she's cut all ties with ex-Strictly partner Kevin Clifton
In the early days of rehearsals, Louise - already mum to boys Beau and Charley - shared hopes that her partner might have some influence in extending the Redknapp brood.
Dubbing Kevin the 'fertility king,' Louise joked about the conspiracy that Kevin could lead to her and Jamie having a daughter as his last two partners (Frankie Bridge and Kellie Bright) fell pregnant shortly after the show.
"Maybe he’s the good luck charm I need to get that girl I really want," Louise told The Sun. "Jamie would love another baby, I’m not getting any younger so we’ll see what happens. But I’m in Strictly shape now so we’ll see."
After years away from the spotlight, what the former Eternal singer did find in the competition gave her a new lease of confidence.
Louise hailed Strictly her 'saviour' and revelled in returning to the stage after 12 years of 'doing the mum thing' - with Kevin acting as a constant source of support.
As the competition heated up, Louise and Kevin grew ever closer with the pair training for hours each day before wowing audiences with their routines every Saturday night.
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As with many a Strictly pairing, rumours of a potential offstage romance were constantly whirring.
While there was never any insinuation anything was going on between Kevin and Louise, according to reports at the time, their respective spouses were growing concerned about the friendship.
It was alleged that Karen and Jamie had an intense late night phone call during the competition.
A friend of Karen's claimed that she warned dad-of-two Jamie: "Keep your wife from my husband. She's ruining our marriage."
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After reaching the finals, a revived Louise admitted Strictly made her reevaluate her whole life and realise she couldn’t go back to being a “Stepford wife”.
"[Jamie's] an amazing man and we’ve had 20 good years together. I know he’s trying to understand that I do need to do this," she explained.
Speaking about the future of their relationship she added: “I have no idea what is going to happen, all I know is that I fought for this, it’s taken everything, but this is something I need to do – for me.”
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After months of rumours, the following July, Louise and Jamie finally announced their split - seven months after the Strictly final.
Louise continued to stay in regular contact with Kevin and kept her former mentor close at hand for her musical comeback.
Pro dancer Kevin was reportedly hired as a choreographer for Louise's return to the pop charts.
Away from their professional relationship, the close pair were spotted together at various events including a theatre bar after watching the ballet in London and again in Birmingham during Louise's tour.
A Strictly source said at the time: "Kevin and Louise clearly have such a strong bond and enjoy working together.
"They know their latest link-up is bound to cause a stir but they’re being professional," they told The Sun.
The sightings coincided with reports Kevin's two-year marriage to Karen was also in trouble.
That December, Karen flew to the US to spend time with her family without Kevin, further fuelling speculation.
The couple announced their separation officially in March 2018.
Speaking on Chris Evans Radio 2 Show, Kevin said: "We’re still the best of friends – we still have a lot of love and respect for each other."
A source told the Daily Star at the time, Louise was 'supporting him through his woes.'
Louise and Kevin were last pictured together in December 2018, when the singer was invited to meet up with her former Strictly partner and his parents for the annual Clifton's Dance Academy Annual Christmas Ball in Grimsby.
Louise said: "It was Kev’s mum and dad who asked me to come when I last saw them in the summer. We went back in the training room and have had four hours of training to get ready!"
Heaping praise on Kevin she said "When I started my confidence wasn't there. I hadn't danced for 15 years. Kevin isn't just a good teacher, but a choreographer."
But in less than four months, their relationship seems to have soured with Louise confessing Louise Redknapp reveals she's cut all ties with ex-Strictly partner Kevin Clifton
The Naked songstress, currently starring in 9 To 5: The Musical at London's Savoy Theatre, told The Sun : "I haven’t spoken to him for a long time. Most probably since the show started. Not since last year."
The pair also no longer follow each other on Instagram .
She said Robert Rinder, better known as Judge Rinder, is the only person she's really stayed in touch with from her time on the show.
The star also said she has "no regrets" about her divorce from Jamie.
