Strictly's Stacey Dooley addresses prospect of marriage to Kevin Clifton

Stacey Dooley has opened up on the idea of marriage to her long-term partner Kevin Clifton.

The pair first met in 2018 after appearing together on the sixteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. TV personality Stacey and professional dancer Kevin won the series, later announcing their romantic relationship.

In August 2022, the pair shared the news that they were expecting their first child via a post on Twitter, and in January, Stacey gave birth to their daughter, Minnie.

Now, the journalist and TV presenter has spoken about whether the couple will potentially tie the knot in the future. In a new interview with The Sun, the star said she is less than enthusiastic about getting hitched to her boyfriend as they navigate parenthood.

"Marriage has never been massively important to me. Also, it's well-documented that Kev's done it a couple of times before," she said, referencing Kevin's marriages to Anna Melnikova in 2007 before they split in 2010, Clare Craze, whom he divorced in 2013, and finally, Karen Hauer, whom he wed in 2015 and split from in 2018.

"So, you do have to bear that in mind, coming down the aisle like, 'Hello everyone, I know what you're all thinking'. It's just never been something I've dreamt about. But I couldn't have done this (motherhood) without Kev. It's weird. I've always loved him, but it's a different love I have for Kev now."

"I don't subscribe to the idea that you offer more stability if you're married because we know loads of marriages end in divorce. But Kev, I don't want to sound too gushing or soppy, but I couldn't have done this without Kev. I couldn't have done this with anyone else."