Ed: Katya and I have a deep thing – it’s intense
HE has spent almost 40 hours a week in the grip of another woman, performing intimate moves in front of millions.
and while Ed balls insists there is ‘no element’ of the Strictly curse affecting his marriage, he has spoken of the ‘deep’ and ‘emotional’ bond he shares with dance partner katya Jones, describing their relationship as ‘intense’.
Opening up about the bbc show, the former shadow chancellor, 49, said: ‘ those weeks of physical interaction are not something you would normally do with anybody, so you can absolutely see that if you add in an extra dimension, it would be very big and very intense.
‘i’m happily married. katya is happily married, and she’s half my age. there is no element of that at all – but despite that, there’s an intensity and camaraderie which is quite a deep thing.’
the so-called curse refers to the collapse of relationships during or soon after the show. Since the first series in 2004, around eight have been struck, including that of rugby star ben cohen, who left his wife for dancer kristina Rihanoff.
Mr balls appeared to understand how relationships could run into trouble, telling the telegraph Magazine: ‘the hours you spend together in a physical and creative process mean it’s emotional.’
the ex-MP, who married fellow politician Yvette cooper in 1998, dismissed any idea of romance between him and Miss Jones.
‘it’s just ridiculous,’ he said. ‘Yvette has been very envious of me learning to dance with a fabulous professional, but i don’t think there’s ever been any issue there at all.’
Yesterday, Miss Jones told the Evening Standard Mr balls’s confidence ‘does it for women – that and his lovely blue eyes’.