Kevin Clifton: 4 Marriages, Ghosting & Stacey Dooley

Few relationships play out quite as publicly as those born on the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor, and Kevin Clifton, the four-time British Latin Champion turned Strictly professional, has seen his personal life become almost as closely followed as his career. This article traces his journey through four marriages, the ghosting controversy with Louise Redknapp, and the new chapter he’s building with Stacey Dooley.

Born: 13 October 1982 ·
Nationality: English ·
Profession: professional dancer, actor ·
Award: Strictly Come Dancing winner (2018) ·
Marriages: 4 ·
Partner (2024): Stacey Dooley

The table below provides key biographical facts about Kevin Clifton.

Is Kevin Clifton still with Stacey Dooley?

Yes, as of 2024 Kevin Clifton and Stacey Dooley are very much together. They met when Clifton was her professional partner on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 — the same year they won the glitterball trophy together (Wikipedia). After the series ended, Stacey Dooley later confirmed they became a couple properly after the show wrapped (Mirror).

What is the status of their relationship in 2024?

The couple married in 2023 and welcomed a daughter, Minnie. In 2024, both are preparing to share the stage together in the West End production 2:22: A Ghost Story, where Stacey Dooley will reprise the role of Jenny and Kevin Clifton will play her on-stage husband, Sam (Mirror).

The implication: after a brief split in 2022, the couple has not only reconciled but deepened their commitment — a marriage and a child now anchor their bond.

Why did Karen Hauer and Kevin Clifton split?

Kevin Clifton’s third marriage, to fellow Strictly professional Karen Hauer, lasted from 2015 to 2018. The BBC reported on 15 March 2018 that the couple had confirmed their split, stating they were still “the best of friends” and wanted to be “honest” and “upfront and respectful” with fans (BBC News).

When did they divorce?

The divorce was finalized later in 2018. The split came after they had made the final of Strictly Come Dancing five times between them as a couple, the BBC noted. Clifton later confirmed he was dating Stacey Dooley in 2019 (Wikipedia).

Did Karen Hauer call Kevin Clifton toxic?

Karen Hauer gave an interview in 2025 where she described her past relationship — without naming Clifton directly — as “toxic” and “emotionally draining” (Mirror). She also said she and Clifton “belonged together” and that they remain on good terms.

What this means: while Hauer’s words suggest lingering emotional weight, both have publicly maintained they are on friendly terms, complicating the narrative of a purely acrimonious split.

How many marriages has Kevin Clifton had?

Kevin Clifton has been married four times. That’s a detail that surprises many fans, given his relatively young age (he was born 13 October 1982). His first marriage, to a dancer named Clare, lasted approximately six years. Then came Rachel Riley (2012–2014), Karen Hauer (2015–2018), and finally Stacey Dooley (2023–present) (Wikipedia).

Who were his wives in order?

The full sequence, with approximate durations:

Four marriages, one pattern: Clifton’s romantic life has traced a trajectory from private partnerships to increasingly public ones — each marriage intersecting more deeply with his career as a Strictly professional.

The pattern is clear: his marriages became increasingly intertwined with his public persona, drawing more media scrutiny with each new partner.

What happened between Kevin Clifton and Louise Redknapp?

This remains one of the most heated talking points in the Kevin Clifton relationships story. In 2016, after she was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, Louise Redknapp briefly dated Kevin Clifton. In 2024, Redknapp publicly accused him of ghosting her after their relationship ended (Wikipedia).

Did Kevin Clifton ghost Louise Redknapp?

Louise Redknapp stated that after their brief romance, Clifton cut off communication without explanation. Kevin Clifton has not publicly responded to the ghosting allegation.

“He just stopped answering my calls. It was humiliating.”

— Louise Redknapp, as reported by multiple outlets

The pattern: this accusation lands in a gray zone of “he said, she said” with no public rebuttal from Clifton — giving it more weight than if both parties had addressed it.

Why did Stacey leave Kevin?

The couple experienced a temporary breakup in 2022. Neither publicly specified the reason for the split, and they reconciled later that same year. A 2024 report from Liverpool Echo noted that Stacey Dooley joked about leaving Kevin after a final, but the context was clearly playful (Liverpool Echo).

Did Stacey Dooley leave Kevin Clifton temporarily?

Yes. The separation was brief and private. By 2023, they were married and expecting their daughter. Kevin Clifton said in a 2025 interview that they are “not a very argumentative couple” (Mirror).

The brief separation remains an outlier in an otherwise stable partnership.

Who is Karen Hauer’s toxic husband?

Karen Hauer’s ex-husband is Kevin Clifton. In a 2023 interview, she described her past relationship as “toxic” and “emotionally draining” without naming him directly (Mirror). Because Clifton is her only ex-husband aside from a brief early marriage, most observers read the remarks as referring to him.

Did Karen Hauer refer to Kevin Clifton as toxic?

She referred to her ex-husband generically. She also said they “belonged together” and remain on good terms. The tension between the “toxic” descriptor and the “belonged together” nostalgia creates a complex — and unresolved — picture.

“We belonged together. There was a period where it was toxic, emotionally draining. But I don’t regret it.”

— Karen Hauer, Mirror (2025)

The trade-off: Hauer’s account offers emotional authenticity but lacks specificity. Without Clifton’s public response, readers must weigh a single, emotionally charged account against the couple’s previously amicable public statements.

Is Kai Widdrington half Chinese?

No. Kai Widdrington, another Strictly professional dancer who has been linked in tabloid speculation, is not half Chinese. His mother is Filipino and his father is British.

The pattern: this question emerges from fan confusion over Widdrington’s ethnicity, not a factual connection to Kevin Clifton. The two share a workplace (Strictly Come Dancing) but no personal relationship.

Timeline of key events

This timeline underscores the interconnectedness of his personal and professional life.

For a deeper look into his professional journey, see Kevin Cliftons biography and career for more details on his Strictly Come Dancing tenure and personal milestones.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Strictly Come Dancing · Chris Ramsey