Strictly Come Dancing's Kevin Clifton fears his relationship with Stacey Dooley could be tested as he opened up about their upcoming venture. The couple met when they were partnered up on the 2018 edition of Strictly Come Dancing. They relocated to Merseyside in 2023 with their daughter Minnie and have been dating since 2019.
Earlier this year, the couple announced they will star together in a new production of hit play, 2:22: A Ghost Story. The tour will see the happy couple reunite in a professional capacity for the first time since they won the BBC dancing show.
2:22 is penned by John Robins and has been a West End smash hit with more than thirty productions across the globe. The supernatural thriller sees a character named Jenny try to convince her husband and their two dinner guests that her home is haunted by a ghost who arrives at 2:22am each night.
Kevin fears the couple may have some disagreements as they portray clashing spouses Jenny and Sam in the supernatural stage show from August until November.
Kevin explained Stacey is able to leave her alter ego at the stage door, whereas he has to "live and breathe" his characters. Therefore, he may bring Sam home with them, which he joked could cause their relationship to end.
Speaking on the latest episode of the All That Chat podcast, Kevin said: "We're not a very argumentative couple - touch wood - we don't argue a lot.
"I'm sure it'll be fine. But also, Stace and me are very different in that Stace can very much go do her job, do it great, and then leave it at the door and come home.
"Whereas I'm a bit obsessive and I have to live and breathe the character. I'll probably bring the character home, which might get interesting. It could be the ending of us."
Kevin thinks it will be tricky to act with Stacey on stage. He explained: "When it's your partner in front of you who knows everything about you and all your insecurities and then you start playing this character in front of them ... it's going to be weird. I'm going to have to get over doing it in front of Stace, and she's going to have to get over doing it in front of me."
Since Kevin left Strictly in 2020 after seven years on the BBC show, he added starring in musicals, including Chicago and Everybody's Talking About Jamie, to his career credits.
He said: "I'd wanted to do a play for ages. It's not just about musical theatre for me. I don't like being boxed in, and I feel like everyone sees me as a dancer, and then it was Strictly."
Kevin helped Stacey get cast in 2:22 A Ghost Story after he complimented her acting to his long-time friend, the show's director Matthew Dunster.
The professional dancer was blown away when he first saw her perform as Jenny in August 2024. He said: "I was nervous going to see it because I just wanted it to go right for her. And I went to see her do it, and I was like, 'Oh my God. She's better than me. She's amazing. She's really good.'"
The couple, who begin rehearsals in July, pitched the idea of co-starring in the show together when 2:22 A Ghost Story returned. Kevin said: "When I heard that they were going out on tour again, we presented the idea to them and said how about the two of us playing it because we both have a gap in the schedule? And they just said that that would be a great idea."
