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Most controversial TV co-star affairs - from Charlie Dimmock to Strictly stars
Reach Daily Express | December 8, 2025 8:39 AM CST

Charlie Dimmock opened up about previously having an affair

Over the years, the world of TV and showbiz has been embroiled in cheating scandals and infidelity rumours, which have plagued TV productions and threatened the careers of many stars on screen. In other cases, such as the BBC's hit competition series Strictly Come Dancing, the notorious Strictly curse has become a phenomenon founded on the idea that participating in the show threatens the status of the relationship one is in when they sign up. As Strictly celebrates 21 years on air, the scandals have affected both the famous contestants and the professionals, as the duos come into close contact during the intense training.

While some celebrity couples are able to work through the affairs, some relationships have ended due to the cheating allegations. From Strictly pairings, news presenter flings and affairs which ended in shows being axed, here is a round-up of some of the most controversial TV co-star affairs.

Charlie Dimmock famously admitted that she has no regrets about having an affair, which ended her 13-year marriage. The BBC star, best known for her role on the gardening show Ground Force, had been with her partner, John Mushet, since they met while travelling in the 90s.

As a result of the affair, in which Charlie had a short relationship with a microphone operator working on Ground Force, the couple broke up in 2001. However, the gardening expert later told the MailOnline: "I don't regret what happened. You wouldn't do anything if you kept worrying about what might go wrong."

BBC newsreaders Tim Wilcox and Sophie Long were banned from presenting together after their affair was exposed.

After their fling hit the headlines in 2012, it was reported that the duo ended their marriages and were in love with each other.

At the time, Tim was informed that he and Sophie could not appear on screen together until the situation had settled down. However, their relationship did not last.

By 2017, reports indicated they had both moved on to new partners. Tim later married journalist Najah al-Otaibi in 2019, but this too ended in divorce just two years later.

Sophie, who had only been married for two years before the affair was exposed, moved on to fellow BBC journalist Kamal Ahmed before they split in 2017.

A promising BBC police drama, Better, was axed after it was revealed that the lead stars, Andrew Buchan and Leila Farzad, were having an affair.

The series was a five-part thriller starring Buchan as suave but ruthless Irish gangster Col McHugh and Farzad as the corrupt Detective Inspector Lou Slack, who regularly received tip-offs and bribes from McHugh.

As the affair hit headlines, it was reported that Andrew's home life with his wife, Emmerdale star Amy Nuttall, was left rocked.

According to The Sun, he and Amy attempted to reconcile, but he had moved out of the family home last year.

The publication claimed that the Emmerdale star had become suspicious when she found sexy lingerie shortly before Christmas that was not in her size.

After just one series, Better was axed by the BBC. A TV insider told The Sun: "Better did good business, averaging almost four million viewers an episode, and there was an appetite to learn more about the tangled lives of McHugh and Slack.

"But the BBC is keen to bring a slew of new shows, which means that, unfortunately, some popular dramas have to make way."

After Philip Schofield's affair with a younger male colleague was exposed, the host stated: "I've lost everything."

During an emotional interview with the BBC, he stated that the pair were "not boyfriends" and had only had five or six romantic encounters over a few months.

However, Phillip insisted that the affair "was a grave error", adding: "I shouldn't have done it."

Philip also doubted if he would ever return to a career in TV and told the BBC: "I have to talk about television in the past tense, which breaks my heart. I have lost everything.

"I see nothing ahead of me but blackness, and sadness, and regret, and remorse, and guilt. I did something very wrong, and then I lied about it consistently."

Referring to his former colleague, he added: "He is an innocent party here. I was older; I should have known better. [The affair] was consensual, but it was my fault."

During the 2007 series of Strictly Come Dancing, EastEnders star Matt Di Angelo and his professional dance partner, Flavia Cacace, were hit with the Strictly curse.

At the time, Flavia was in a long-term relationship with fellow dancer Vincent Simone, but they soon broke up after romance blossomed between her and the actor in the studio.

Matt and Flavia ended the series as runners-up, and soon after Strictly finished, they started dating. The relationship lasted three years.

Reflecting on their love triangle, Matt described the focus and frenzy as a "pretty crazy time"

He told the MailOnline: "But in reality, there wasn't much drama. There was never a raised voice, and often the three of us would be sitting down having a cup of tea together."

Giovanni Pernice was paired with actress Georgia May Foote in Strictly's 13th series.

At the time, she was dating fellow Corrie star Sean Ward, but during the 2015 show, the couple split shortly before the final and a few weeks later, Georgia and Giovanni confirmed they were dating. However, they split up in August 2016.


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