Kevin and Karen Clifton will reportedly not be paired together during group dances on the upcoming season of 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Kevin and Karen Clifton

Kevin and Karen Clifton

The dancing duo confirmed they had separated in March this year after three years of marriage, and whilst both professionals will appear on the BBC Latin and ballroom dance competition this year, they are said to have requested that they don't end up paired together when all the pro dancers take to the stage.

A show source told The Sun's Bizarre TV column: "Kevin and Karen might put on a united front in public but it's purely for show.

"For the time being they needed to protect their business interests - that's the only reason they haven't publicly confirmed divorce proceedings and Karen still wears her wedding ring. They can barely stand being in the same room let alone want to dance intimately together.

"Kevin is determined that he won't be dancing with Karen on this year's series and is relieved that Strictly bosses are mixing things up and giving the dancers more variety on who they dance with on each show."

The comments come after a spokesperson for 'Strictly' confirmed that the professional dancers would change partners throughout the series, during the sections where all the professionals dance together.

They said: "The professional dancers on 'Strictly Come ­Dancing' dance with different partners throughout the series."

Meanwhile, sources revealed earlier this month that both dancers would be returning to the show this year.

An insider said: "They'll both be back. If they got back together during the months the show was on, it could be a reverse curse.

"We're all suckers for a bit of romance and these two are hugely popular members of the 'Strictly' family.

"Fans don't want to see either of them leave. Just imagine if they rekindled their love on the show. How fabulous would that be?"