Strictly star Kevin Clifton shares a heartbreaking tribute to his friend who has died aged 35 after tragic cancer battle

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Kevin Clifton paid a touching tribute to his friend, Jonathan Clough, who passed away at the age of 37.

Jonathan, a former producer, received a diagnosis of an aggressive and incurable brain tumor called Grade 4 Glioblastoma in 2024.

People are donating money to help Jonathan, the host of popular shows like Strictly, The Apprentice, and Gogglebox, pay for specialized medical care. He is a father of two.

Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin, 43, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram on Saturday, honoring a close friend.

He reminisced about a tough competition with Jonathan, sharing an old selfie of them at the British Grand Prix. They were both wearing identical McLaren bucket hats in the photo.

He described him as a wonderful friend, a great man, and a devoted father who fiercely loved and protected his family. He said he would miss him deeply.

Kevin received a lot of supportive messages from friends and fans who were offering their sympathy.

His girlfriend Stacey Dooley was one of the first to react as she shared a heart emoji.

Kevin and Stacey met in 2018 while competing on Strictly Come Dancing, and they ultimately won the competition’s famous glitterball trophy.

They’ve been together ever since and welcomed their daughter Minnie in January 2023.

Oh my gosh, I was devastated when Kevin left Strictly in 2020! Seven years of him on that show felt like a lifetime of amazing dances, and I honestly thought he’d be there forever. But thankfully, he hasn’t disappeared! He’s been absolutely killing it on stage – I saw him in Chicago, it was incredible, and then Everybody’s Talking About Jamie? Genius! I’m so proud of everything he’s doing, it’s just amazing to see him shine!

Following the departures of longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman last year, the Saturday night hosting role on Strictly Come Dancing became available.

And head judge Shirley Ballas has revealed that her mum wants Rylan Clark to replace the duo.

Shirley, who cares for her 88-year-old mother Audrey Rich, jokingly said at the Wimbledon BookFest that her mother would prefer Rylan Clark to take over their current situation.

Many believe the This Morning presenter is a top contender to take over from the current hosts, but Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby, and Stacey Dooley with Kevin Clifton are also strong possibilities.

Oh my gosh, they asked Shirley who she wanted to replace them, and she totally hinted at someone! She said, ‘Oh absolutely, darling!’ but then played coy and wouldn’t tell us who! It’s killing me, I need to know who she’s thinking of! She’s so mysterious and fabulous, leaving us all on the edge of our seats!

Shirley also confessed that she will also walk away from the much-loved dance show one day.

I get along with them really well. However, everyone reaches a point where they’re ready for something new, and we need to respect that.

It’s hard to see them leave, but they’re prepared to start a new chapter. Eventually, I’ll be ready to move forward too, and I’ll do so when I feel the time is right.

‘And somebody else will come in, and after a show or two you’ll fall in love with the next person.’

Shirley, a judge on the show since 2017, said she’ll be very sad to see the hosts go. She wishes them all the best in their future endeavors and is confident they’ll be successful.

Shirley believes the show will continue to be successful even without its usual hosts, despite the recent problems it’s faced.

She believes ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ will continue to be successful as long as viewers enjoy it. She acknowledged there will always be some criticism and predictions of the show’s decline, especially when popular contestants leave, but that’s normal.

Honestly, it’s going to be so weird without them, I’m really going to miss watching them! But I get it, everything changes. It’s just… Strictly isn’t about any one person, you know? Not the pros, not the judges, not even the celebrities. It’s about us, the viewers. It’s for the public, and that’s what makes it so special.

I’m really sad to see them leave, especially Claudia and Tess. They’ve been with me from the start, patiently guiding me through everything, step by step. They were always there for the people they served, and I appreciate their support so much.

She called them the heart of the show and enthusiastically complimented them behind the scenes.

She explained that because her dressing room is right next to Anton and Giovanni’s, she often sees their relationship. Motsi and the other dancers are further down the hall, but she’s close enough to Anton and Giovanni to observe them.

It’s been amazing to see their camaraderie, how much they enjoy working together, and how dedicated they are to their work – I’ve really learned a lot from them. It’s truly inspiring to watch.

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2026-01-13 14:34