Eamonn Holmes has joked he hoped the "'Strictly' curse" would hit him and wife Ruth Langsford.

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford

The 'This Morning' presenter has been married to Ruth since 2010 and quipped that when Ruth, 59, competed on the show in 2017 - where she was partnered with Anton Du Beke - he wouldn't have minded if she left him for a dancer as he would have received a great deal of public sympathy.

Speaking on 'The Lateish Show With Mo Gilligan', Eamonn, 59, said: "One man's curse could be another man's blessing. If Ruth had run off with a dancer there, I would have had to go into public grieving and been on the front of all the women's magazines. Everybody saying, 'Poor Eamonn, she left him in the lurch'.

"I'd have had to seek comfort in the arms of some poor woman, that would have me."

And 'Love Island' host Caroline Flack - who won the show in 2014 - defended 'Strictly Come Dancing', explaining that although some relationships have ended due to the show, it has also been responsible for bringing many new couples together.

She said: "You've got a lot of marriages and a lot of people who have got together. It isn't always affairs."

Eamonn's comments come after 'Good Morning Britain' presenter Ben Shephard recently revealed that his wife won't let him follow in the footsteps of his co-stars Susanna Reid, Richard Arnold and Kate Garraway and take part in 'Strictly'.

Speaking on the ITV breakfast programme, Susanna - who also appeared on the BBC show when she was runner-up in 2013 - said: "Three quarters of us have unashamedly busted out our moves on national television. Ben Shephard, it is time for you to get onto 'Strictly.' "

However, Ben - who married Annie Perks in 2004 and has shares two sons with her - responded: "You know why I can't do it? Because my wife doesn't want me to have an affair."

Susanna added: "Oh, because of the curse of 'Strictly'? Actually, that's a really good point, it has been pretty bad recently."

The so-called 'Strictly' curse suggests being on the show causes couples to break up when celebrities embark on romances with their dance partners.

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