Since popular TV dance show Strictly Come Dancing first began in 2004, it’s not been short of romantic scandals. A number of splits and divorces have been linked to the show – and after comedian Seann Walsh was recently pictured kissing dance partner Katya Jones, resulting in his girlfriend Rebecca Humphries leaving him, the so-called ‘Strictly Curse’ has struck again in 2018.

Jo Hemmings, a behavioural psychologist specialising in media and celebrity analysis, recently shared her thoughts on the ‘Strictly Curse’ and the reasons why relationships both blossom and break-up so often on Strictly Come Dancing.

Contestants on Strictly spend a lot of time with their professional dance partners, with previous and current contestants having formed both strong friendships and romantic relationships during and after the show. “Inevitably, the 50 hours or so a week spent with their dancing partners will create a closeness that some may never have experienced before,” says Hemmings.

 “They won’t all be a breeze either. There will be rows and tears as well as joys and achievements. They are time-rich and deeply intense relationships.”

“They barely see their partners for weeks on end, and when they do, they are probably emotionally and physically exhausted,” she notes. “Not the best mood to keep a relationship going.” If there are any pre-existing problems, “the pressure will simply amplify those” adds Hemmings.

The time spent and bond formed between contestants and their professional partners could then potentially highlight any current underlying problems in existing relationships, bringing the paired dancers closer together.

As Hemmings explains, contestants and their dance partners “probably share a great deal of their personal lives with each other during the production process, filming and shows”.
Old lives seem ‘a bit humdrum’ Hemmings further expands on this, noting that only “secure and stable” relationships can “really genuinely know they will survive the process”. However, sometimes existing relationships seem to break down only after a series has finished, without a new romance having formed.

Eleven relationships have either formed or broken up since the show first began, explains Hemmings. And while, “unlike some reality shows, which are created to form relationships, Strictly is not designed for this purpose.

For Portable Offices their involvement in Strictly Come Dancing is anything but a curse, as the company has been working tirelessly behind the scenes at Elstree Studios for several years providing portable units for changing facilities, offices and hair and make-up.

With the studios complete, the show was able to go on and production of the popular celebrity dancing show took off without any hitches. This was the latest contract in a series of orders received from the BBC for its Elstree Studios complex.

The Portable Offices’ team is on hand to service companies’ and organisations’ accommodation needs and aims to provide a speedy, professional, cost-effective, turnkey service.

Visit the website to find out more by visiting  www.portableoffices.co.uk