A STRICTLY Come Dancing star has claimed he was “stitched up” by the BBC show in a shock rant.
The ex soap star, 45, has alleged the show “manipulated” a romance between himself and former show professional , 45.
A Strictly Come Dancing alum has slammed BBC show bosses for ‘manipulating’ a romance between himself and his former dance partnerCredit: PA
Ricky Whittle has lashed out in a series of shock claimsCredit: Splash News
He was partnered with Aussie Natalie Lowe in the 2009 seriesCredit: Handout
He suggested show bosses ‘knew what they were doing’ when they played romantic music over a clip of the pairCredit: PA:Press Association,BBBC
, who after his stint as Calvin Valentine, was a runner-up on back in 2009.
Yet during their lengthy stint on the series he fell foul to rumours of the show’s infamous .
The “curse” is a phenomenon that hits celebrities and their dance partners during their time on the series.
Due to the harsh schedules, sexy dance moves and close quarters with their partners, their off-screen romances sometimes suffer as a result
Back in the Hollyoaks days, Ricky dated his co-sta, who played Steph Cunningham in the soap.
Despite showing support for her then beau in the early stages of the competition, faltered amid claims Ricky had grown close to his dance partner,
Now he has claimed BBC bosses created a clip of him and Natalie holding hands, with romantic music playing in the background.
Talking of the video segment he said: “The BBC totally stitched me up, they manipulated a romance, they fixed it so that we were the romantic couple.
“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.”
He added to MailOnline : “They knew what they were doing.
“Other couples were the ones who argued, but Natalie and I were the romantic couple.”
Reps for Strictly had no comment.
RICKY’S CAREER
The Oldham-born actor went on to make it big in LA after leaving Cheshire-based soap Hollyoaks in 2011, after five years on the show.
He has starred in the US remake of BBC drama, Mistresses, action series The 100 and fantasy show American Gods.
He stars in the latter series opposite Ian McShane of Lovejoy fame.
Strictly Curse - The Lowdown
STRICTLY Come Dancing's latest series has already been hit by rumours of a BBC show 'curse' - yet what is it?
A host of Strictly Come Dancing stars have been struck by the during the past two decades.
This is where celebrities who may or may not be attached in the outside world become more than friends with their professional partners.
A are said to have been impacted so far over the show’s 20 years.
It has seen relationships crumble with dance floor romances and punishing rehearsal schedules to blame.
This includes the partnerships of Louise and Jamie Redknapp as well as Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer.
Controversially, Judge once said of the curse: “I think of it as a blessing, to be honest. One person is married, the other one had a girlfriend but my point in this entire thing is: if you come on Strictly, sometimes you are in a relationship that is not working anyway.
“There has to be something wrong in your relationship before it all goes awry.”
Series one winner Brendan Cole left his fiancé, fellow Strictly professional Camilla Dallerup, during filming for the very first series in spring 2004.
Brendan was said to have fallen for his celebrity partner and inaugural winner , although the duo didn’t confirm they were romantically involved.
He also has several film credits to his name, including Netflix film Nappily Ever After, as well as 2013 romcom Austenland.
Since moving to the US, he has been linked to former Gossip Girl actress Jessica Szhor and Demi Moore’s daughter .
He splashed out back in 2019.
Ricky’s relationship with Carely Stenson faltered during his time on StrictlyCredit: Getty
Ricky, who now lives in LA, suggested the BBC had ‘stitched me up’Credit: Getty
He found nationwide fame in the UK on HollyoaksCredit: Handout 
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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