{"id":203248,"date":"2025-11-27T15:59:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T15:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/203248\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T15:59:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T15:59:09","slug":"strictly-star-claims-he-was-stitched-up-by-bbc-bosses-over-manipulated-romance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/203248\/","title":{"rendered":"Strictly star claims he was ‘stitched up’ by BBC bosses over ‘manipulated’ romance"},"content":{"rendered":"

A former Strictly Come Dancing star has spoken out, claiming he was ‘stitched up’ by the BBC show’s bosses during his time on the show, which saw him split from his partner<\/p>\n

10:33, 27 Nov 2025Updated 10:34, 27 Nov 2025<\/p>\n

\"AA Strictly Come Dancing star did not hold back<\/p>\n

A former Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> star has hit out at the BBC<\/a> show bosses, claiming he felt ‘stitched up’ by the programme in a new shock rant.<\/p>\n

Former Hollyoaks<\/a> star Ricky Whittle, who competed on Strictly in 2009, and was partnered with professional dancer Natalie Lowe during his time on the show. The Calvin Valentine actor, 45, ended up become the show’s runner-up of the series, finishing in second place behind sports presenter Chris Hollins.<\/p>\n

However, 16 years after he left the Strictly ballroom, he has hit out at the show, claiming producers ‘manipulated’ a romance between himself and his dance partner Natalie, 45.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Strictly’s Tess Daly explains what she eats every day including a ‘naughty snack’<\/a>READ MORE: Zoe Ball says ‘I feel your pain’ as she opens up on health issue that she ‘really struggled’ with<\/a>\"RickyRicky Whittle was partnered with Natalie Lowe on Strictly in 2009(Image: PA)\"RickyRicky Whittle has hit out at Strictly bosses(Image: BBC)<\/p>\n

During his stint on the show, Ricky was dating Carly Stenson, who played Steph Cunningham on Hollyoaks. Carly, 43, even supported Ricky while on Strictly during the initial stages of his time in the competition. But, their romance wasn’t to last and appeared to fall foul to the so-called ‘Strictly curse’ as they split in the early stages of the competition amid claims Ricky had grown close to his Aussie dance partner Natalie, who left Strictly in 2017.<\/p>\n

Now, Ricky has hit out at the show, claiming: “The BBC totally stitched me up, they manipulated a romance, they fixed it so that we were the romantic couple.”<\/p>\n

He added to the Daily Mail:<\/a> “They manipulated interviews in the VTs shown during the show. I remember them asking me questions about Natalie like, ‘Was seeing her the best part of your day?’ or me saying she was amazing, and they cut together with soft, beautiful music in the background.<\/p>\n

\"RickyRicky was dating Carly Stenson during his time on Strictly, but they split soon into the show(Image: PA)\"CarlyCarly is now married to Danny Mac(Image: Dave Benett\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

“They knew what they were doing. Other couples were the ones who argued, but Natalie and I were the romantic couple.” The BBC declined to comment when contacted by the Mirror<\/a> online.<\/p>\n

Since his stint on the show, Ricky moved over to the US in 2012. He now lives in Los Angeles and has appeared in a string of movies and television shows, including Netflix’s Nappily Ever After and thriller film Land Of The Bad.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Ricky’s ex-girlfriend Carley fell in love with Mark ‘Dodger’ Savage actor Danny Mac. The pair tied the knot in 2017 and share two children together; a daughter named Skye Bella, who was born in 2021, and a son named Beauie Mac, born in 2024.<\/p>\n

Danny also appeared on Strictly in 2016, and Carly revealed she wasn’t worried about the dreaded Strictly curse with her then-fianc\u00e9 Danny. She revealed Danny had asked her permission to take part in the series.<\/p>\n

She told The Sun: “He said to me \u2018Do you want me to do it? If you don\u2019t want me to do it I won\u2019t\u2019 and I said \u2018Are you kidding? Do it!\u2019<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m not really worried, it wasn\u2019t that [the Ricky situation] as that was so long ago,” she explained. “He just knows we\u2019re both very private so he was like \u2018This is going to catapult us a little bit\u2019 so I was like \u2018No babe, do it\u2019.”<\/p>\n

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