26 Facts About Kevin Clifton

Kevin James Clifton was born on 13 October 1982 and is an English professional dancer and actor who was a professional dancer on the BBC TV series Strictly Come Dancing, having previously worked as an assistant choreographer.

Kevin Clifton was given the nickname "Kevin from Grimsby" by Sir Bruce Forsyth.

On 15 December 2018, Clifton won the sixteenth series of Strictly with his celebrity partner Stacey Dooley, who has been his girlfriend since 2019.

Kevin Clifton appeared in every year's final from when he joined the show in 2013, with the exception of 2017 and 2019.

Kevin Clifton started dancing ballroom and Latin as a child in his home village of Waltham, near Grimsby, taught by his parents, former World Champions Keith and Judy Kevin Clifton.

Kevin Clifton competed nationally and internationally as a child initially partnering his sister Joanne.

Kevin Clifton was a Youth World Number 1 and four time British Latin Champion and won International Open titles in Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Japan, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Belgium.

In 2010, Kevin Clifton made his musical theatre debut in Dirty Dancing The Musical at the Aldwych Theatre in London's West End, where he partnered BBC1's So You Think You Can Dance winner, Charlie Bruce.

Kevin Clifton performed with the show in Japan, Australia, South Africa and the United States, as well as making guest appearances on Dancing with the Stars in the United States and So You Think You Can Dance in the Netherlands.

In 2013, Kevin Clifton appeared on series 11 of Strictly Come Dancing and was partnered with Susanna Reid.

Kevin Clifton had previously auditioned for the show with his partner Karen Hauer, but they had only needed a female dancer at the time, so he was instead employed as a choreographer for the show in 2012.

Kevin Clifton won the 2013 Strictly Come Dancing Pro Challenge becoming the Guinness World Records holder for most Drunken Sailors in 30 seconds The couple's popularity ensured they reached the final, on 21 December, where they finished as runners up with Natalie Gumede behind model Abbey Clancy.

In 2014's series 12 of Strictly Come Dancing Kevin Clifton was paired with pop star Frankie Bridge.

In 2015, Kevin Clifton, recently married to co-professional dancer Karen Hauer, returned for the thirteenth series of the show and was partnered up with EastEnders actress Kellie Bright.

Kevin Clifton was due to dance again with Frankie Bridge for the 2015 tour, but she had to pull out due to pregnancy, he instead danced with series 6 contestant Rachel Stevens.

In 2016 Kevin Clifton again took part in Strictly Come Dancing, where he partnered singer and media personality Louise Redknapp.

On 17 December 2016, Kevin Clifton became the first professional dancer in the show's history to compete in four consecutive finals; he was the only professional dancer not to be in the dance-off.

For series 15 in 2017, Kevin Clifton was partnered with Scottish comedian Susan Calman.

Calman expressed her great delight at the partnering with Kevin Clifton, of whom she is a fan.

For series 16, in 2018, Kevin Clifton was partnered with English television presenter and journalist, Stacey Dooley.

Kevin Clifton partnered TV host Anneka Rice for the series seventeen, in 2019, they were the second couple to be eliminated after the judges chose to save David James and Nadiya Bychkova; making this Clifton's shortest series to date.

Kevin Clifton grew up in the small North East Lincolnshire town of Waltham, attending the East Ravendale Primary school, where he was notable for his Michael Jackson impressions.

Kevin Clifton then married fellow professional dancer Karen Hauer, having proposed to her on her birthday, on stage during a performance of Burn the Floor.

On 15 March 2018, Kevin Clifton confirmed he and Karen Hauer were no longer together romantically.

In 2019, it was confirmed that Kevin Clifton was dating his most recent Strictly Come Dancing celebrity partner Stacey Dooley.

Kevin Clifton currently owns a property investment business with a friend, describing it in an interview as a 'second career'.