Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Meet the partners of this year’s line-up
Love is in the air (Picture: Getty)
Strictly Come Dancing is just weeks away and the BBC have put together a stacked line-up with Katie McGlynn, AJ Odudu, Tom Fletcher and more.
Of course, we’re excited for the stars to strut their stuff on the ballroom floor, particularly with Anton Du Beke on the panel full-time now, but there’s even more to look forward to.
Romance is always a Strictly talking point, and we’re sure a lot of this year’s contestants will be getting cheered on by a supportive partner or spouse.
Plenty of the upcoming cast are settled in long-term relationships, some married with kids, and others are very much single and looking for love.
Here’s everything we know about this year’s batch of celebrities and their partners.
Adam Peaty and Eirianedd Munro
Olympic swimmer Adam Peatey first met his girlfriend Eirianedd Munro while he was training at Loughborough University, where she was a student.
In April 2020, he revealed they were expecting a baby boy, and Eirianedd gave birth to George-Anderson Adetola Peaty five months later.
‘I’ll be here anytime you need me son. You motivate me to become a better person in every single way,’ he tweeted at the time. ‘I’m so proud of you @EirianeddMunro and I love you both incredibly.’
AJ Odudu
AJ Odudu is single, and back in November she opened up on how the second lockdown – and the pandemic as a whole – stopped her from meeting a potential flame.
AJ admits the pandemic hurt her love life (Picture: Jonathan Hordle/REX/Shutterstock)
‘Just as I was getting out there, lockdown two happened and now I’m just focused on work,’ she told the Daily Mail. ‘I do not mix business with pleasure. 2020 is not the year for my love life sadly.’
She previously appeared on the Manhunting With My Mum and Celebrity First Dates Hotel – as well as using dating apps like Hinge and Raya – but now she’s hoping to meet someone organically.
Dan Walker and his wife Sarah Walker
Dan Walker his been married to his wife Sarah, with whom he has kids Susanna, Jessica and Chuck, since 2001 after they started dating two years earlier at the University of Sheffield.
Unlike her famous husband, Sarah doesn’t really put herself into the spotlight.
Occasionally, Dan will share family photos, but they’re few and far between – and even rarer if you’re looking for their faces!
Greg Wise and Emma Thompson
Greg Wise met fellow actor Emma Thompson on the set of Sense and Sensibility in 1995, and welcomed daughter Gaia – whom they conceived via IVF – four years later before they tied the knot in 2003, and adopted son Tindyebwa Agaba the same year.
Emma and Greg first met in 1995 (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
He actually dated his and Emma’s co-star Kate Winslet first, after being told by a ‘witchy’ friend that he would meet his future partner on set.
‘He assumed it wasn’t me because I was married and quite a lot older than him so he thought it might be Kate,’ Emma has told Graham Norton.
John Whaite and Paul Atkins
John Whaite got engaged to his graphic designer partner Paul Atkins four years ago.
They’ve been together for well over a decade – having met on Facebook in 2008, four years before John won on Bake Off – and largely keep their relationship private.
The baker will make history on Strictly next month, as he’ll form one half of the show’s first ever all-male pairing.
Judi Love
Comedian Judi Love is a single mum of two, and she’s opened up about her search for love on Loose Women in the past.
Judi Love opens up on Loose Women (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
She keeps her kids out of the spotlight, although she occasionally chats about them on the show.
However, she’s previously admitted she will never let her children go on Love Island.
Katie McGlynn
It’s believed that Katie McGlynn in currently single.
Katie split from salesman Benjamin two years ago (Picture: BBC/PA Wire)
Back in 2017, she was dating salesman Benjamin Roberts but the pair – who travelled to Thailand together – split two years later.
Earlier this year, she had to dismiss rumours she was dating Giovanni Pernice.
Nina Wadia and Raiomond Mirza
Actress Nina Wadia met her husband Raiomond Mirza, with whom she has two kids, in Canada and got married there in the summer of 1998.
Nina has opened up about their racy love life (Picture: Joe Maher/Getty Images)
She’s been very open about their love life and revealed a bit of ‘role play’ helps them keep things fresh
She told the Brown Girls Do It Too podcast: ‘I can’t imagine still being with my husband if we’d run out of steam. Role play has come in very handy.’
Rhys Stephenson
If CBBC star Rhys Stephenson is dating someone, he’s kept it very private.
Rhys is buzzing to get dancing (Picture: BBC)
Away from his TV roles, he’s also a vocal mental health advocate, and he’s looking forward to embrace every aspect of his Strictly experience.
He recently wrote on Instagram: ‘IT’S HAPPENING, Strictly 2021!!! I’m shaking! I can’t wait to get started on this iconic show, I want it all, the sequins, the costumes, Craig’s glare, BRING IT.’
Robert Webb and Abigail Burdess
Robert Webb married Abigail Burdess in 2006 after they met while recording radio show The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff.
Abigail and Robert tied the knot in 2006 (Picture: Dan Wooller/REX/Shutterstock)
Of course, Robert’s best pal and Peep Show co-star David Mitchell was his best man on their wedding day.
They live together in London – Robert and Abigail, that is – with their two daughters.
Rose Ayling-Ellis and her boyfriend
Very little is known about Rose Ayling-Ellis’ mystery boyfriend, whom she’s been with for seven years.
Sometimes, she’ll share some sweet photos of them on social media, and back in 2019 they went to Peru together.
Last year, she quipped: ‘6 years we’ve been together and I still don’t find you annoying.’
Sara and Simon Davies
Dragon’s Den star Sara married her husband Simon in September 2007.
Sara and Simon’s early romance was ‘a scandal’ (Picture: @saradaviescc)
They’ve got two kids together – sons CHarlie and Oliver – and actually met when she was 15 and he was 19, which she admits was ‘quite a scandal’.
However, earlier this year she said: ‘I would say we’re still as madly in love today as we were 22 years ago. We have this deep-rooted respect of each other and the role we play in our relationship. I idolise the ground he walks on.’
Tilly Ramsay
It’s not entirely clear whether Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Tilly is single or not at the moment, but in 2019 it was revealed she’d been dating Gino D’Acampo’s son Luciando.
Tilly previously dated Gino’s son Luciando (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
However, just weeks after we found out about the romance, she went Instagram official with Seth Mack.
She has since deleted the photo of her and Seth.
Tom and Giovanna Fletcher
Tom and Giovanna is basically the perfect love story, having met as childhood sweethearts at school and getting engaged a decade ago.
Tom’s wedding speech is still the stuff of legend (Picture: John Phillips/John Phillips/Getty Images)
They got married the following year, and the McFly star’s viral musical wedding speech – a medley of his band’s big hits – set the bar high for grooms around the world.
Together, they’ve got sons Buzz, seven, Buddy, five, and Max, who will turn three on August 24.
Ugo and Lucy Monye
Rugby star Ugo Monye met his wife in October 2014, and got engaged within a year as he celebrated their love on their anniversary in 2015.
He wrote at the time: ‘A year ago today I met this little beauty @lucyvelster! We’ve spent it with the people we love – now we’re planning a wedding! I’m a lucky boy.’
They tied the knot in 2016 and have two kids together – daughters Phoenix Lilly, four, and Ruby, 18 months – while Lucy largely stays out of the public eye.
More: Strictly Come Dancing
Not long to go now, with the stars no doubt already working hard to get ready for the big launch.
At least they’ll all have family and friends to keep them going – and to keep viewers entertained in emotional video packages during rehearsals.
Strictly Come Dancing is expected to launch on BBC One in September.
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