Strictly fans were a little bit broken-hearted when, earlier this year, professional dancers Kevin and Karen Clifton announced they were separating after three years of marriage. The former couple are fan favourites on the BBC series, but despite their split, they are still working together on the 2018 season.
The pair announced the news together with Chris Evans during an interview on his radio breakfast show, and were quickly praised for the warm way the handled the dissolution of their personal relationship, citing that it wasn't the end for their partnership as professional dancers.
"Privately we are not together anymore but professionally we are stronger than ever before," Karen said when the split was first announced.
Now, in a recently revived interview with Hello!, the pair - who, adorably still both wore their wedding rings to the shoot - spoke together about life after their marriage and how they remain friends and a constant support to each other, despite everything.
"It was important to be honest about everything," Kevin said of the break-up. "I think there is a lot of pressure on people to be perfect all the time, and so there is this fairytale image of everything, but at the end of the day we are just like other people. We are just two people who love what we do and we never want to pretend to our fans or to anybody."
He also said that their honesty as a couple was apart of the chemistry they had together when performing.
"Being honest about everything has unlocked a real creativity. We are stronger than ever. As performers you have to be in touch with yourself and the truth. A lot of people can go on stage and give a big smile and entertain an audience, but the really special ones have an honest way of performing."
Karen added that her love and respect for her former-husband would never diminish, despite their parting.
"It is about being true to yourself, and respecting one another. I respect and admire Kevin as a performer, a human being, and I’ve always looked up to him, that will never stop. We want to be positive in all of this," Karen added. "The fact that I get to work with Kevin, and he inspires me, means a lot to me."
While Kevin said they would remain the "best of friends."
"What the future holds we have no idea. We are the best of friends, have a good laugh, and life goes on."
They are a testament to consciously uncoupling in the most positive of ways.
Strictly Come Dancing continues every Saturday evening on BBC1.
