Strictly Come Dancing 2025 star says ‘it strikes again’ as he addresses show’s ‘curse’

Professional dancer Julian Caillon, who is competing in the BBC show’s semi-final with EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, has spoken out on the notorious Strictly ‘curse’

Balvinder and Julian (Image: BBC)

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One of the newest Strictly Come Dancing professionals, Julian Caillon, 30, has revealed all about the show’s ‘curse’, which sparks speculation around the contestants’ relationships every year.

The so-called ‘Strictly curse’ refers to the idea that participating in the BBC series – as a celebrity or a professional – threatens the status of the relationship you’re in when you sign up.

The ‘curse’ has dominated conversation around Strictly for the past few years, as some professional dancers and celebrity contestants have struck up romances after meeting on the show, including Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez, and Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell, who are expecting their first baby together.

Australian dancer Julian, who is partnered with EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, 47, said that the ‘curse’ has been mentioned on set this year, but only in one particular circumstance.

During an appearance on the Farmer Will & Jessie podcast, hosted by Love Island stars Will Young and Jessie Wynter, Julian, who got engaged to long-term girlfriend Sofia Ochoa last year, spoke about making light of the ‘curse’ with fellow Strictly 2025 semi-finalist George Clarke, 26.

Julian joined Strictly this year (Image: BBC)
When quizzed by Jessie about the tongue-in-cheek TikTok, the duo recorded hinting at the ‘curse’, Julian quipped: “Yeah, well it [the curse] strikes again! Unfortunately, George and I, you know, we’ve gone public.”

After sharing a giggle with Jessie and Will, Julian set the record straight, explaining: “I’ve only been on the show for the one year, so I can’t speak to what’s happened in the past, but yeah, I just think I’m just here to work, do my thing, focus on the dancing, get Bal to be as great as she can be.

“But I think in general, whether it’s the Strictly curse, or whether it’s anything else, I think you only make it a big deal if you kind of ignore it.

“So, people like to talk about it, it’s there, we don’t focus on it at all. It doesn’t really ever get brought up, unless it’s in a joke, you know, on set or anything like that.

“We kind of just carry on, do our thing, and I go home to my loving fiancée every day, and that’s it.”

George Clarke and Julian have poked fun at the Strictly curse with cheeky social media posts

Julian and Balvinder have impressed fans with their performances (Image: PA)
Jessie replied: “At the end of the day, you guys are both there to work and I feel as though, with dance, it is very performative, it is made to look romantic, you’re made to feel those emotions, I think the Strictly curse is just taking it a bit too far,” to which Will agreed: “You’re telling a story, aren’t you?”

Julian confirmed: “Yeah, it’s just acting, really. I mean, you know, it’s no different than if you’re in a movie and you’re playing a role, at the end of the day, it’s acting.

“But I guess people see it… it’s obviously reality television and you’re also spending a lot of time with that person, but yeah, we’re here to try and bring some joy to the people at home.”

On Saturday night, Balvinder and Julian will perform two routines, a Waltz to ‘At This Moment’ by Michael Bublé and a Salsa to ‘Rhythm Is Gonna Get You/Get On Your Feet’ by Gloria Estefan, in a bid to make it to Strictly 2025’s grand finale next weekend.

The couple will be competing against fellow semi-finalists George Clarke and Alexis Warr, Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, and Karen Carney and Carlos Gu.