Ross King makes Strictly Come Dancing debut as glamorous girlfriend watches from the audience

Ross King, 63, left Strictly Come Dancing fans speechless on Saturday night when his glamorous new girlfriend was seen in the audience as he made his BBC debut on the ballroom show. He performed the cha-cha-cha with professional partner Jowita to Katy Perry's California Gurls and earned 10 points out of 40, a modest start for a first performance on the long-running competition.

After the routine, King paid tribute to Bridget, saying she had flown more than 5,000 miles to be in the audience. He added, "It's so lovely that my girlfriend Bridget flew over 5,000 miles to come watch. I said to her, 'You have to come because there might not be many of these'."

Cameras then captured Bridget in a strapless black dress as she watched King alongside his sister Elaine, prompting a flurry of reaction from Strictly fans online. On X, formerly Twitter, followers weighed in on the surprise development, with posts ranging from disbelief to excited curiosity. One user wrote, "Did Ross King just say girlfriend ??? Ummm #strictly," while another commented, "I'm so glad other people had the same reaction I did to Ross having a girlfriend #strictly." Others teased the relationship with varying humor, including, "Ross has a girlfriend !!! Secondly she looks like his grandaughter! #Strictly," and "Can we all just talk about Ross’s girlfriend ?! Does he have a lot of money? #Strictly," followed by a message noting, "Ross King saying his girlfriend is in the audience #strictly." A final post summed up the mood with emphasis: "Ross King has a GIRLFRIEND ?! #Strictly."

King, originally from Scotland, has long since established a life in Los Angeles. He left the United Kingdom in 2000 to become GMTV's showbiz correspondent, a role he held until 2010. He later took on a range of presenting assignments, including a stint as a weather presenter for KTLA after winning a competition that launched his career on the channel. His film credits include The Day After Tomorrow, Half Past Dead, Do It For Uncle Manny, Trust Me, Young Hercules and Who’s Your Caddy, among others. Beyond his career, King has had a high-profile personal life in the United States, including marriages to Charley (born Helen Charlotte Way) in 1999 and Brianna Deutsch in 2015. The couple separated in 2006 and again in 2022, with reports at the time noting they remained on amicable terms. Charley is known for stage and screen work on both the West End and Broadway, while Deutsch’s relationship with King drew interest from showbiz circles.

In later years, King spoke candidly about life in Hollywood and his family connections to Scotland. He has described himself as a big family man and said he still feelsHomesick for his mum and sister back in Scotland, visiting as often as possible while continuing to pursue opportunities in the U.S. The pair’s 2023 BAFTA Burns Bash reunion with Charley in Los Angeles underscored the enduring ties that have shaped his long-running move between two continents.

King’s entry into Strictly Come Dancing for the 2025 season had been confirmed last month, and his remarks at the time emphasized an eagerness to bring energy and experience to the dance floor. The lineup announced for the new series includes a mix of Olympic athletes, actors, musicians and reality figures, with King positioned as one of the seasoned broadcasters joining the ballroom stage. His public embrace of a partner in Bridget adds a new chapter to his public persona as he embarks on the competition, which this year promises a blend of familiar faces and fresh personalities.

As the show continues, audiences will be watching to see how King and his partner navigate the demanding routines and how his growing personal life intersects with the high-profile performance schedule. For now, the moment remains a notable one: a 63-year-old showbiz veteran debuting on one of television’s most beloved formats while a glamorous girlfriend watched from the audience, turning heads and captioning social media chatter in equal measure.