Greg Rutherford has denied reports this year’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ contestants have been offered relationship counselling to avoid falling victim to the dreaded ‘Strictly curse’.
Last month, it was claimed the celebrities would be given guidance on how to ensure their real-life partnerships survived while competing on the BBC ballroom show, given the amount of previous contestants whose relationships ended.
Those including Susanna Reid and Caroline Flack have fallen victim to the so-called “curse”, as have Ben Cohen and last year’s runner-up Georgia May Foote.
However, Greg, who had a son with long-term partner Susie Verrill, has claimed he has heard nothing about the counselling sessions.
“Not for myself,” he said, speaking to The Huffington Post UK and other journalists at this year’s ‘Strictly launch.
“I don’t believe in curses or any of that sort of thing. If people want to have fun, which some people do, that’s entirely up to them. So it is what it is.”
The Olympic long jumper, who won bronze at the Rio Games, also admitted he wasn’t feeling as confident on the dancefloor as he was on the field.
“I’ve trained every day, just running and jumping into sand, just doing one activity for 15 years, and now people are asking me to move and twizzle, and I’m having a meltdown every five minutes,” he said. “It’s very, very difficult.
“I’m not a good dancer,” he continued. “I’m not expecting to come in win this by any stretch of the imagination, but what I am hoping for is the fact I can train a lot and that I’m ok at it, last a few weeks and then happily go out, it’s fine - I’m very comfortable with that happening.”
‘Strictly Come Dancing’ starts tonight (3 September) at 6.50pm on BBC One.
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