The wife of Robert Webb said she had no fears about the Strictly Come Dancing “curse” but did worry about his health as he was recovering from heart surgery.
Author Abigail Burdess insisted she was not concerned when the Peep Show star took part in the BBC One show in terms of their marriage.
She thinks that the curse, when some contestants’ relationships hit the rocks, only applies to young people as older celebrities would be too tired to get involved with their professional partners.
The mum-of two said: “I did think he was crazy to go on Strictly having recently undergone massive heart surgery, but he wanted to feel like he could do it.
“His cardiologist made him stop [Rob competed in 2021 but had to withdraw], but it was wonderful watching him dance and the kids got so into it.
“His partner, Dianne Buswell, looked after him very well. People asked me if I was worried about the Strictly curse, which I found totally ridiculous.
“Dancing 12 hours a day, Rob wouldn’t have had the energy. I don’t think the curse applies to the middle-aged.”
Comedian Seann Walsh ’s long term relationship with Rebecca Humphries ended after he kissed his professional partner Katya Jones in October 2018.
Other celebrities have also seen their long-term relationships fail after they took part on the show.
In the joint interview with his wife in The Sunday Times magazine, comedian and author Webb, 50, said that having heart surgery three years ago, shortly before his stint on Strictly, changed his life along with their marriage of 16 years.
Rob revealed his heart operation also led to him having a lifestyle makeover, having previously drunk a lot of alcohol.
He said: “We had been in couple’s therapy previously because of my daytime drinking, so the surgery changed a lot.
“It was really the best thing that could have happened to me.
“Our marriage is much happier now because we’re both there, rather than one person sort of not being there.
“The longer it goes on, the more I recognise that what little claim to happiness and sanity I have in this world, I put down to my marriage with Abbie.”
