Strictly Come Dancing is back with Movie Week this weekend, promising to add a touch of silver screen glamour - and drama - to proceedings as the celebs and their partners pull out all the stops.
While the 2022 series is only three weeks in, the pressure is slowly cranking up with one couple already feeling forced to shut down speculation they're not getting on behind the scenes.
Giovanni Pernice took to It Takes Two this week to quash rumours he's at odds with Radio 2's Richie Anderson after viewers claimed they'd noticed signs of frustration on his part.
"Where is the camera?" the 2021 champion asked, before assuring fans directly: "There is no problem between us. We are having a good time."
But the duo would be by no means the first Strictly couple to discover it's not all smooth sailing after being paired up by BBC producers.
While some partnerships can lead to Strictly magic - and even a romance or two - some couples wind up being nothing more than a dancefloor disaster, Darling.
We take a look at some of the most awkward duos in Strictly history.
Lynda Bellingham & Darren Bennett (Series seven, 2009)
Loose Women star Lynda hid her dislike for strictly dance partner Darren very well indeed, 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 dancing and zero fun.
"Even when they went out for a cup of coffee afterwards, she said the guy was just blank," Michael revealed.
"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, Lynda and Darren didn't have to spend too long together. They were evicted in 13th place.
Fern Britton & Artem Chigvintsev (Series ten, 2012)
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.'
"He was like, ‘Shut your face. Go home before I kill you,'" said Fern.
"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," joked the former This Morning presenter.
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 & Anton Du Beke (series twelve, 2014)
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 his routines in each week.
Now-judge Anton was quoted as complaining: "She was sh*t. Why couldn't they have given me Pixie Lott?"
Kelly Brook & Brendan Cole (series five, 2007)
Former glamour model Kelly Brook and bad boy of the dancefloor Brendan looked like a match made in Strictly heaven when they were paired up.
However, behind the scenes the duo 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 & Ola Jordan (series 12, 2014)
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 complained to bosses that his teacher Ola Jordan was taking things way too far with her 'strict' ways.
After awkward conversations, the duo did not stay on speaking terms after the show.
Steve told reporters that he hadn't spoken to Ola for a 'good while'.
Danny John-Jules & Amy Dowden (series 16, 2018)
Danny and Amy were an instant hit with the judges during the early rounds of the show, picking up consistently high scores for their near faultless routines.
But a few weeks in and cracks were beginning to show and rumours of their behind the scenes antics were stealing headlines more than their moves.
There were reports of training room spats, with Amy even said to have been left in tears during one unpleasant session and the pair even confessed they'd had a disagreement during an appearance on It Takes Two.
When they were the seventh couple to be booted from the show, Danny did not take part in the obligatory in the obligatory Monday night spin-off.
He went on to slam the show for 'creating stories' about him, which the Beeb denied.
Gregg Wallace and Aliona Vilani (Series 12, 2014)
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.
"I love dancing, but if I were paired with somebody who liked me then I would have done better," he scathed.
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 with the pair going on to take the Glitterball Trophy.
Anastacia and Brendan Cole ( Series 14, 2016)
US songstress Anastacia did not hide the fact that she and Brendan clashed in the training room.
"We’ve definitely had some conversations, I won’t lie about that," she admitted.
“I think we’re both two very strong-minded individuals in a process, but we get along very, very well," she insisted.
Brendan also denied reports of clashes with the US singer 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.
Laura Whitmore and Giovanni Pernice (Series 14, 2016)
Ladies man Giovanni had been dating Laura's pal, soap star Georgia May Foote, until just before training started for the 2016 season of the show.
Laura then found herself in the awkward position of being paired up with her good friend's ex.
"I was thrown into the lion’s den and into the middle of someone’s break-up that had nothing to do with me," she later explained.
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."
Lulu & Brendan Cole (2011, series 9)
Songstress Lulu and Brendan Cole were reported to be having problems working together during series 9 of the long-running series.
Sources close to the show claimed Lulu cried after every show.
During an appearance on Loose Women the professional dancer said the 60s icon had been his worst ever partner.
"She felt the same about me, so it’s alright," he quipped.
Katie McGlynn & Gorka Marquez (2021, series 19)
Coronation Street's Katie McGlynn was paired up with fellow Manchester dweller Gorka Marquez in 2021.
But that appeared to be where the similarities stopped between the two, with viewers claiming to notice an awkward atmosphere between them last year.
During one Q&A with fans during the series run, Katie was immediately asked what was really going on with her and Gorka.
The former Sinead Tinker actress vehemently denied anything was wrong.
"Anyone who knows us knows we get on. We've got the same sense of humour, we literally just laugh all day," she insisted.
Gorka also took to Instagram to tell fans: "To those who think that we aren’t getting on keep thinking it."
Sadly the chemistry didn't connect with viewers or the judges and they become the second couple to be eliminated.
