Strictly's Louis and Dani split from partners

Strictly's Louis and Dani split from partners
Strictly's Louis and Dani split from partners (Image credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Strictly Come Dancing stars Louis Smith and Dani Harmer are dancing solo after splitting with their other halves. The Olympic medal-winning gymnast ended his romance with Chantelle Hole, which he said was 'never serious', as he revealed a crush on fellow Strictly contestant Kimberley Walsh. "Chantelle is not my girlfriend. I am single and free to talk to, text and meet other women, like Kimberley Walsh, who is beautiful," he told The Sun. Louis, who is paired with dance pro Flavia Cacace, added: "The thing about having a crush on a celebrity like that, if you've never met them, you are attracted to them, but when you meet them it changes. Now we're on the same show, we get on well. We're like mates." Tracy Beaker actress Dani has been focusing on training with partner Vincent Simone since her split with TV assistant director Graeme Livingstone. "Dani is a tough cookie and she decided it wouldn't get her down. She must be hurting, but she hasn't called off training - there has been no crying in the corner and she is very focused on the routines," a source told the paper.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.