Charlotte Hawkins pours cold water on Strictly curse claims saying it’s ‘not an issue’ as she’s ‘happily married’
STRICTLY'S Charlotte Hawkins and her husband have rubbished claims their marriage will be rocked by the show's "curse" - despite the fact she's been paired with "really nice bloke" and originator of the curse, Brendan Cole.
Good Morning Britain newsreader Charlotte, 42, says she's too "happily married" to husband of nine years Mark Herbert to stray with her dance partner,- who ran off with newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky during the 2004 series.
And despite vowing to "sex up" the BBC dance contest, the gorgeous mum says the Strictly curse is "not an issue" for her, though she's asked about it often.
Charlotte may not realise she's contending with a curse that's destroyed over a dozen relationships - but she's confident in the face of adversity.
The morning TV presenter told Hello! mag: "One of the things I get asked about most is the 'curse of Strictly', but it's not an issue as we're very happily married."
Meanwhile her hubby Mark emphasised that he wants his wife to have "chemistry" with Brendan - who is currently in his good books.
He said: "It's really important they get on - there needs to be quite a bit of chemistry there for their dancing to be good.
"Brendan is a really nice bloke - I'm very happy with him as a choice."
However, poor Mark might have had to look away when Brendan kissed Charlotte during their foxtrot on Saturday's first episode - when the lyrics "wait till our lips have met" was sung.
Charlotte and Mark welcomed a daughter called Ella Rose in February 2015, and the mum added that she's taking inspiration from her "carefree" two-year-old while rehearsing her dances.
She revealed: "Ella Rose finds it funny when I practise in the kitchen. She helps me with the counting - 'Five, six, seven eight'.
"She does baby ballet and has taken to it like a duck to water."
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Chichester native Charlotte is not the first GMB host to take part on Strictly as Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway have done so, coming runner-up and eighth respectively.
And now Charlotte feels confident she has a win in the bag with Brendan - who has been making her giggle during rehearsals - because he won the series with his only newsreader partner Natasha thirteen years ago.
The win came at a price though, seeing as Natasha left her boyfriend Mike Barnard for him after their affair on the show, which also broke up Brendan's engagement to dancer Camilla Dallerup.
New Zealander Brendan - who has already heaped praise on Charlotte - got off to a good start on Saturday, earning 22 points out of 40 for his foxtrot with the news anchor.
Aston Merrygold topped the leader board with 31, while Ruth Langsford and Brian Conley came joint last on 16.
Read the full interview with Charlotte and Mark in Hello! magazine, out now
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