BBC ‘can’t sack’ Kevin Clifton as contract says he must be partnered with celeb
STRICTLY bosses will be forced to partner Kevin Clifton with another celebrity when the show returns this year - despite his romance with Stacey Dooley.
The Sun can reveal the BBC are contractually obliged to pair the professional dancer with a celeb after he signed a new deal.
After winning last year's show with documentary-maker Stacey, Kevin, 26, was handed a new contract that guaranteed he would dance with another star in 2019.
However, it's since emerged that the Rock of Ages the Musical star is now in a relationship with his partner - something that is frowned upon on by telly bosses.
The family friendly show has taken a stand against rampant romances behind the scenes.
Katya Jones has been demoted after cheating on husband Neil with her dance partner Seann Walsh last year.
Her public snog with the comedian created more drama on last year’s show than anything on screen and she's now been told she won't have a celeb partner in the next series.
The revelation comes after Jeremy Vine , who is good friends with Kevin's ex-wife Karen Clifton, claimed she could "take him down" with one sentence.
The 53-year-old partnered Karen, 37, on Strictly in 2015 while she was still married to fellow pro, Kevin.
Speaking on his Channel 5 show on Monday, Jeremy hinted Karen could tarnish Kevin's squeaky clean image if she wanted to.
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He said: "Karen is a very good friend of mine, and she's out of it.
"By the way, one word from her would take him down and she hasn't said anything.
"Blokes are very bad judges of how other blokes relate to women. [But] I would always take Karen's side in any argument.
Jeremy also made a sly dig at Kevin's three failed marriages, joking: "It's quite difficult to get married three times..."
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