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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Nika Shakhnazarova

Kevin Clifton spills Strictly Come Dancing secrets after surprise exit from show

Kevin Clifton has lifted the lid on some Strictly Come Dancing secrets that viewers watching from home aren't aware of.

The former Strictly pro dancer, 37, has revealed exactly when the hit BBC show's dancers are told about their celebrity pairings ahead of rehearsals.

Speaking on his podcast The Kevin Clifton Show, he revealed: "I want to crush these myths, one of which is that we all know who we are going to be partnered with... I say I don't know - I don't even know who they are

"People assume 'cos the launch show is pre-recorded not live, they think we know who we are going to be partnered with."

Kevin Clifton said pro dancers don't know their celeb pairings beforehand (Getty)

The dancer, who is currently dating his former Strictly dance partner Stacey Dooley, 33, vowed to listeners that pro dancers don't know who they are partnered with before Tess announces it.

He explained: "I promise you we never know until that moment that Tess announces it.

"It's the producer and probably two other people, who make the decisions, who know who is partnered with who. We don't know until Tess announces it - as I think they want that reaction."

Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton starred on Strictly together (BBC)

But despite not being in the know, Kevin said the pro dancers always try to guess who their partners will be.

He said: "We always try and guess, and partner people up in our heads and write lists about who might be with who.

"We used to have three weeks of training before the first show, but it's come down to about a week and a half."

Kevin and Stacey are currently dating (BBC)

It comes as Kevin, who joined the show's professional line-up in 2013, announced in March that he was quitting.

Confirming the news on social media, he 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."

Professional dancer Kevin (PA)

He continued: "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 added: "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.

"Thank you to anyone who has ever voted for me and my partners. It means the world."

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