Kevin Clifton quits Strictly Come Dancing after 7 years

The dancer won the show with Stacey Dooley in 2018
Matt Writtle
Rachel McGrath6 March 2020

Kevin Clifton has announced that he's leaving Strictly Come Dancing.

The professional, who won the competition with his now-girlfriend Stacey Dooley in 2018, revealed the news on Twitter.

Clifton's statement, penned in the iPhone Notes app, reads: "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."

"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 the last series with the Children In Need trophy and the Christmas special I wanted 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."

Strictly Come Dancing Champions - In pictures

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Clifton then thanked his fellow pros and celebrity partners for "inspiring me every day" and stating that the behind-the-scenes team "have 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," he said. "It means the world."

A statement from the programme was then shared on the show's official account, alongside a post which read: "Sadly Kevin Clifton is leaving #Strictly after seven incredible years on the show. Join us in wishing him all the best, @keviclifton. you’ll be sorely missed!"

Clifton featured in seven series of Strictly and after winning in 2018, he was paired with Anneka Rice in 2019.

It's fair to say Rice wasn't a natural dancer and the pair became the second couple to leave the series.

Clifton then made a brief, unexpected comeback when he replaced an injured Neil Jones and danced with footballer Alex Scott.

In January, Clifton told the Evening Standard that he didn't "really know" how many years he would stay on the show for.

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