Strictly Come Dancing’s Max George says he’s ready to have a baby with ‘the one’ Stacey Giggs
STRICTLY Come Dancing hunk Max George has revealed girlfriend Stacey Giggs is “the one” he plans to spend the rest of his life with — and he’s ready for fatherhood.
The former Wanted singer, 32, who made a shock exit from the BBC One dance competition last weekend, has dated Stacey, 38, for two years.
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And he’s now planning to pop the question to Stacey — who is divorced from Man United legend Ryan Giggs — after being linked to several girls in his younger days.
The star, who was partnered with Aussie professional Dianne Buswell on Strictly, told The Sun on Sunday: “I’d like to think this is it for me now, she’s the one. I’ve never felt so strongly about anyone.
“She is everything to me, more than what I could have ever asked for. I’m not on the move constantly now with the band, I’m extremely settled at home.
"It has calmed me down. I’m not out with the lads all the time clubbing — I’ve not done that since I met Stacey. I take my work a lot more seriously.
"I loved every minute of being in The Wanted but I don’t think I’d have the stamina now.”
And Max, who enjoyed numerous flings with women while in The Wanted — including Jennifer Lopez and Amy Willerton — admits he’s ready for fatherhood now in whatever form that takes.
He said: “Fatherhood is obviously something I would love. But I never expected I could have family like I do, even with Stacey’s kids.
"They are my family. I could never have dreamed of feeling so close to a woman and kids before. If we have some [kids], amazing. But I’m so happy.
"I couldn’t have asked for more. If that does happen, lovely, I’m completely content with everything.”
While taking part on the prime-time show, Max had to form a bubble in London, near the studios, so was separated for two months from Stacey and her kids Libby, 17, and Zachary, 14, who he lives with in Manchester.
He admits it wasn’t easy being apart from Stacey, adding: “We’re used to being with each other every day but Stacey was so cool about the whole thing, she was so supportive.
"Some days I wouldn’t get to speak to her because by the time I got back from training she would be in bed. But she completely got it.
"She is super chilled and I’m very lucky in that sense.”
The couple were finally reunited last weekend and Max said: “It was emotional and lovely. She came to London. I saw her coming up the street and we ran to each other, dropped the bags.
"I have genuinely missed her so much. She has already put the Christmas tree up ready for me, we’ll spend Christmas together — just us and the kids, the four of us.”
It has been an unprecedented year on Strictly as the show soldiers on amid the pandemic, with boxer Nicola Adams, 38, forced to pull out after dance partner Katya Jones, 31, contracted Covid.
Max, who was in the bottom two dance-off with EastEnders actress Maisie Smith, 19, said: “The first time I went into the studios, it felt a bit like a virus movie.
“Physically, the contestants couldn’t bond but the crew told us it was the closest group they’d had, because there was no audience. We all wanted each other to win.”
Max hopes one of the older cast members will win after actress Caroline Quentin, 60, became a maternal figure for him.
He said: “Caroline knew how nervous I was and would sit and talk to me about my nerves. She was like my counsellor — I felt that motherly comfort. We were really close.”
Lonely Max also spoke about missing Stacey with his dance partner Dianne, who in turn was pining for her boyfriend and former contestant Joe Sugg, 29.
He said: “It was nice to have someone in a similar situation. She’d talk about being away from Joe and I would talk about being away from Stacey.”
Max’s nine-hour training sessions had a positive impact on his body as he shed a stone in under a month.
But he admits he regrets swearing in excitement after his dance last week — the gaffe was caught by the cameras.
He said: “I completely forgot I was on live TV and what I was doing. I don’t remember doing it, but I watched back and I immediately winced.”
Meanwhile, Max is staying positive for Wanted bandmate Tom Parker, 32, who recently revealed he has an inoperable brain tumour.
He said: “I’m trying to process the situation and how I can help. It feels unfair and horrible — you question why. I’m in awe of him and the way he is coping with it.”
Max, who starred in hit US show Glee five years ago, is eagerly anticipating the release of his upcoming movie thriller Kill/Stream.
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He said: “I love acting and I want to concentrate on it full-time now. There are a lot of film opportunities on the table.
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“And I would like to do TV work. I do like period dramas, playing a scally from Manchester in the 1600s.
"I would’ve loved to have been in Game of Thrones, fighting in costume.”
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