Robshaw jokes about Strictly curse as he dances with Nadiya Bychkova while married

Chris Robshaw has acknowledged that he would like fans to think he’s been struck by the Strictly curse, even though he is happily married. The former England rugby captain, 39, is paired with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC, with Robshaw married to opera singer Camilla Kerslake since 2018.

In an interview with The Sun, Robshaw said, “Surely if people think there’s something going on between us, we must be doing something right.” He added that he and Bychkova are “a team, both totally focused on the dancing and giving it our all week by week.”

The couple’s first public training moments have been shared in a clip that also shows Robshaw’s wife and their children taking part in the routine. The BBC professional dancer is seen joining Robshaw and his family as they prepared for their first dance on the show. In the footage, Nadiya is holding Robshaw’s son Hunter, 13 months, while Robshaw steadies his daughter or partner’s child as they move through basic salsa and Charleston steps, with Camilla, 37, joining in.

Camilla has since posted about the family’s training, expressing gratitude to Nadiya for guiding them and saying she could not wait for the next lesson. The social-media post also shows Camilla and the couple’s sons taking part in a session, seemingly signaling a cooperative, family-centered approach to the upcoming competition.

The Sun has reported that Camilla has taken an active step toward building a friendship with Nadiya in a bid to prevent any fallout from the so-called Strictly curse. A source described Camilla as a “girls’ girl” who has invited Nadiya over for dinner and hopes to forge a bond outside the show, so the two women present a united front rather than a divided one.

“Chris’s partner is totally on board, they have shared common ground and want to make sure they’re a unified group — rather than Camilla being on the outside,” the source said. The note added that Robshaw believes the two women will grow closer, potentially leaving him as a “third wheel.”

Robshaw’s initial decision to join Strictly came at a tense moment for his family, as the notes recount that the family was briefly subjected to stalking. The rugby star and his partner explained they would not allow the situation to derail their Strictly journey.

Camilla used social media to address fans directly, thanking them for their support and stating that the family would focus on what lies ahead with Strictly. She wrote that the events would not define them and that the couple would continue to share moments from their “exciting journey” on the show, including the anticipation of sequins and spray tans.

The 2025 Strictly Come Dancing lineup includes a wide range of celebrities from sports, acting and reality TV, among them Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, drag performer La Voix, and former footballers, models and journalists. Chris Robshaw is listed among the contestants for the new series, underscoring the show’s continued appeal to fans looking for high-profile stars paired with seasoned professionals.

The series premiere is set to reveal each contestant’s partner on Saturday, with the full lineup expected to generate early anticipation and publicity around the show’s familiar blend of spectacle and sport. Robshaw and Bychkova will begin their competition on the ballroom floor as audiences await the first glimpse of their routine and the couple’s dynamic under the studio lights.