Strictly Come Dancing star Lilia Kopylova bikini

Strictly Come Dancing star Cherie Lunghi says courting is like a bad play

Cherie Lunghi, the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, tells Mandrake why she is fed up with dating.

She may be as desirable as ever at the age of 59, but Cherie Lunghi despairs of the “dating” scene.
“It is like doing a run of a rather tiresome play,” says the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, who has a daughter by Roland Joffé, the director.

“You have to repeat the same lines over and over and answer the same questions continuously. It really does take a long time to get to know somebody even after you have got past the preliminary 'interview stage’.”

Kara Tointon puts split rumours with Artem behind her as she shops for their love nest

She is reported to be less than happy about her boyfriend's latest dance partner, but Kara Tointon looked anything but insanely jealous as she went shopping yesterday afternoon.

The former EastEnder's actress is allegedly feeling extremely envious of Artem Chigvintsev's partnership with Holly Valance on this year's Strictly Come Dancing - but she's certainly not showing it.

Kara - who won the reality TV show last year after dancing with the Russian pro - struck up a relationship with him during the eighth series and confirmed it at the beginning of this year, but now it seems that their romance is under strain.

John Barnes and Nicole Cutler in Strictly Come Dancing

John Barnes ,Nicole Cutler

Nicole Cutler and John Barnes sexy dance

Nicole Cutler in sexy blue dress

Dancing couple in yellow dress

Dance couple waiting for results

Nicole Cutler in white dress showing her naked back 

Couple dancing

Pensioner power as Flexible Felicity and Ann delight 'Strictly' viewers

Unfortunately, there wasn't any trick in the book that could have saved Paul Daniels from getting the chop on Strictly Come Dancing. 

The magician exited the show after his rumba failed to impress the judges, earning him just 16 points out of a possible 40. 


Otherwise, last week was very much a case of – what commentators have dubbed – pensioner power. 

Comedian-turned-psychologist Pamela Stephenson, 60, smouldered her way through a rumba to top the leader board.

She had amazingly dexterous competition from Felicity Kendal.

The 64-year-old actress quite literally bent over backwards to show off the benefits of her pilates regime.

She sent pulses racing by performing the splits, giving viewers an eyeful of her thighs in a sexy slip of a dress that was slashed to the thigh.