This year’s Strictly Come Dancing celebrities on the ‘Strictly curse’

Some of this year’s contestants are hoping for a blessing, not a curse.

Published Sep 8, 2017

Brian Conley and Gemma Atkinson at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 at Broadcasting House in London (PA)

The “Strictly curse” has grabbed headlines each year during the BBC One dancing spectacular.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 — Simon Rimmer says his wife has no concerns about the so-called ‘Strictly curse’ while he competes on the BBC One series (BBC)

Here is what a few of this year’s celebrity contestants had to say about the “curse”:

Brian Conley: “My wife can’t wait. She’s saying ‘I hope that blimmin’ curse kicks in! It’s been 21 years now love! You know what, I’m old enough to be their grandfather. My wife hasn’t got any worries. She’s hoping it might kick in but she’s not worried.”

Gemma Atkinson: “I’ve been single for ages so there won’t be any curse for me, it would be a blessing!”

Strictly Come Dancing Launch 2017 – London — Davood Ghadami at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017 (PA)

Simon Rimmer: “I’m married with two kids. She (my wife) rolls her eyes a lot and shakes her head. In terms of the alleged curse of Strictly we were out with friends the other week and one of our friends said ‘Are you not worried about it?’ and Ali said ‘So let me get this straight then: a really fit young beautiful dancer is going to be tempted to be wooed away by my lumbering 54-year-old husband who can’t dance’. So, she’s not worried.”

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 7pm on BBC1.