Kevin Clifton wishes ex-wife Karen a happy birthday after gushing over new love Stacey Dooley
The dancer told his ex-wife to 'have a wicked one' as he reached out to her following their split last year
KEVIN Clifton wished ex-wife Karen 'happy birthday' on Instagram after he gushed over new love Stacey Dooley.
The dancing beauty, who revealed she needed therapy to get over their failed marriage last year, turned 37 years old on Saturday.
Karen shared a sweet photo that saw her holding a bright bouquet of flowers and she captioned it: "Feeling very special on my birthday ... Thank you for all your lovely messages.
A flurry of stars rushed to send celebratory messages, including Strictly dancers Neil Jones and Janette Manrara, with Kevin, 36, commenting beneath her photo: "Happy Birthday you. Have a wicked one"
The night before, he'd praised his new girlfriend Stacey on stage and thanked her for helping him win Strictly for the first time in his six-year-stint.
The pro, 36, who split from his dancer wife Karen last March, also complained about being in the limelight.
Kevin said: “In the last couple of years I’ve seen massive upheaval in my personal life and it hasn’t always been easy.
“There have been a lot of things thrown at me. At times I’ve struggled. And the times I’ve struggled and I was in a bit of a rut I didn’t know what to do.”
The three-times married dancer said new show Burn the Floor had helped.
He paid tribute to dance partner Stacey for helping him to win Strictly.
He said: “Thanks to Miss Stacey Dooley, I can finally say I’m the Strictly champion after six years of trying. It’s a miracle.”
Kev, speaking at Burn the Floor’s first night in Southport, avoided talking directly about his latest love.
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Meanwhile, Karen revealed last year that she had therapy to cope with the breakdown of her marriage.
She told the : "I’ve taken a big hit.
"I had to realise that I’m 36 years old. I’m not a kid and it has taken me a lot of therapy and life coaching to get through this.
"I have found it really difficult."
The dancing beauty revealed how the pair fought to save their marriage adding: "We thought our relationship was going to be the best thing. It turns out that it wasn’t."
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