Strictly’s Kevin Clifton QUITS the show after seven years as girlfriend and fellow champ Stacey Dooley says he’ll ‘always be the king of the programme’
- The professional ballroom dancer broke the news in a lengthy Instagram post shared with followers on Friday afternoon
- ‘To me Strictly always has been and always will be the best show on TV and has been an absolute dream and honour to be a part of,’ he told fans
- Clifton reached the Strictly Come Dancing final five times during seven years on the BBC show, winning it once in 2018
- A BBC spokesperson confirmed: ‘He will be hugely missed by fans and by his Strictly family. He will always be our Kevin from Grimsby’
Strictly professional dancer Kevin Clifton took to Instagram on Friday to reveal he has quit Strictly after seven years on he show.
Sharing a series of pictures, the 37-year-old wrote: ‘To the entire Strictly family. The past 7 years have been some of the most wonderful years of my life.
‘I am grateful to the BBC and Strictly Come Dancing for giving me the opportunity to have been a part of something truly special.
‘I want to leave on a high’: Kevin Clifton took to Instagram on Friday to reveal he has QUIT Strictly after seven years on the show (pictured with now girlfriend Stacey Dooley in 2018)
‘Since first being called “Kevin From Grimsby” by Sir Bruce Forsyth in 2013 I have experienced the highs of 5 finals, winning a Guinness World record on It Takes Two, the Strictly Arena tour glitterball and then the ultimate of winning the 2018 series with Stacey Dooley.
‘After finishing last series with the Children In Need trophy and the Christmas Special I want to leave on a high and have therefore decided the time has come to move on and focus on other areas of my life and career.’
He continued: ‘I want to thank all of the pros for inspiring me every day as well as all of my celebrity partners. The whole team behind the scenes have made always made the Strictly family what it is and the loveliest show to work for.
Sweet: Stacey paid tribute to her boyfriend and dance partner, as she gushed that he ‘will always be the King of Strictly’
What a blow! Kevin’s news will no doubt come as a shock to his legion of fans as he is a very popular member of the Strictly family
‘Thank you to anyone who has ever voted for me and my partners. It means the world. And a special thank you to Jason Gilkison for always believing in me.
‘To me Strictly always has been and always will be the best show on TV and has been an absolute dream and honour to be a part of.
‘Pre 2013 I used to watch every week. Now I look forward to returning to being a fan and cheering on my friends who keep dancing. Kevin Clifton.’
A spokesperson for Strictly Come Dancing: ‘Kevin has been such a brilliant part of Strictly for the past seven years.
‘From reaching the final an impressive five times, to lifting the Glitterball with Stacey Dooley in 2018, he has provided the show with some fantastic moments, through his exceptional talent as a dancer and choreographer.
‘He will be hugely missed by fans and by his Strictly family. He will always be our Kevin from Grimsby.’
He said: ‘Thank you to anyone who has ever voted for me and my partners. It means the world. And a special thank you to Jason Gilkison for always believing in me.
Stacey took to Instagram to share a gushing tribute to her beau, as she shared a selfie of the two of them and wrote: ‘…will always be the King of Strictly. Well done darlin. Watch this space!!!!’
She then shared a video so she could speak publicly about the news, and gushed: ‘I have just seen that Kev has just posted about him leaving Strictly.
‘I just wanted to say publicly Kevin I’m so proud of you what you’ve achieved on that show is remarkable and its completely undeniable.
‘Without question you’re the most successful pro strictly has ever had and that because you work so bloody hard and you’re kind, and you’re full of grace and you’re so talented, and I can’t wait to see what you’ve got next. Well done darling.’
Kevin – who joined in 2013 – also paid tribute to all of the other professionals he has worked with during his time on the programme and all of his celebrity partners, who have included Louise Redknapp, Susanna Reid, Frankie Bridge and his now-girlfriend Stacey Dooley, whom he won the glitterball trophy with in 2018.
Stacey and Kevin have been dating ever since they got together on the 2018 series of Strictly Come Dancing – which they won together.
The media personality settled into the dancer’s flat after leaving the home she shared with her former partner Sam Tucknott in Brighton.
Kevin has had an incredible tenure on the show, and received three 40s on the show for his Argentine Tango with Louise Redknapp, and two with Kelle Bright for their Tango and Showdance.
