STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen have split — 12 years after the Strictly curse saw them get together.
The ex-England rugby star dumped his wife Abby to date Russian pro Kristina after being paired on the dancefloor in 2013.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen have split[/caption]
Ben and Kristina pictured last year in happier times[/caption]
Ben with his ex-wife Abby, who he left after being paired with the Russian pro on the dancefloor in 2013[/caption]
But pals confirmed they had parted after financial difficulties tore the relationship apart.
A friend said: “Ben left his wife Abby for Kristina, only to now split with her.
“It’s like the curse in reverse.
“This will be like karma for Abby, she was so upset when Ben left her.
“It’s like he has got his comeuppance.”
Ben, 46, and Kristina, 47, who have an eight-year-old daughter, have put their £1.75million house in Northampton on the market and Ben has been removed as a director of their joint yoga business.
A pal said: “The past six months have been hell for them and it has torn the love they had apart.
“For the sake of their family, they have chosen to go forward as separate individuals.
“Those close to them who know them as a couple had hoped they would be able to work things out but for now it’s over and it looks like there’s no going back.”
Their split means the curse of Strictly now appears to be cursed itself.
Ben, who won the rugby World Cup in 2003, split from Abby — his wife of 11 years and the mother of his two daughters — after being paired with Kristina.
Earlier that year Kristina had split from boxer Joe Calzaghe — whom she had met on the 2009 series. Joe left his girlfriend of five years soon after joining the show.
Kristina has previously defended her relationship with Ben, saying: “People do meet at work and that’s where we work.”
7 OTHER BALLROOM SPLITS
NATASHA KAPLINSKY AND BRENDAN COLE
Brendan Cole split with his girlfriend after rumours he had grown close to partner Natasha Kaplinsky[/caption]
PRO Brendan Cole split with girlfriend Camilla Dallerup, who was also a Strictly dancer, after rumours he had grown close to partner Natasha Kaplinsky in 2004.
FLAVIA CACACE AND MATT DI ANGELO
Professional dancer Flavia Cacace hooked up with her partner Matt Di Angelo[/caption]
IN 2007, professional dancer Flavia Cacace dumped her Strictly colleague Vincent Simone and hooked up with her partner Matt Di Angelo.
RACHEL RILEY & PASHA KOVALEV
SHORTLY after the 2013 series ended, Countdown star Rachel Riley split with her husband Jamie Gilbert.
She later married her pro partner Pasha Kovalev and they have two kids.
GEORGIA MAY FOOTE & GIOVANNI PERNICE
Georgia May Foote dated her Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice[/caption]
ACTRESS Georgia May Foote split with her boyfriend Sean Ward in 2015 — weeks before she started officially dating her Strictly dance partner Giovanni Pernice.
JOE SUGG AND DIANNE BUSWELL
YOUTUBER Joe Sugg appeared on Strictly in 2018 and was paired with pro Dianne Buswell — who had been dating Emmerdale star Anthony Quinlan when the series began.
STACEY DOOLEY AND KEVIN CLIFTON
Stacey Dooley got together with her pro partner Kevin Clifton[/caption]
TV PRESENTER Stacey Dooley appeared on the show in 2018.
She later split from her boyfriend Sam Tucknott and got together with her pro partner Kevin Clifton.
They have a child.
SEANN WALSH AND KATYA JONES
Seann Walsh’s relationship with actress girlfriend Rebecca Humphries ended in 2018 after he was caught kissing pro partner Katya Jones[/caption]
COMIC Seann Walsh’s relationship with actress girlfriend Rebecca Humphries ended in 2018 when The Sun published video and pics of him kissing pro partner Katya Jones.
