Strictly Come Dancing star Ore Oduba has said there is no danger of the programme’s so-called “curse” striking his marriage, because his wife spends so much time with his dance partner.

The TV presenter and professional dancer Joanne Clifton have wowed the judges with their routines during the series.

Their moves helped them earn three 10s in the fourth week and propelled them to the top of the leaderboard two weeks in a row – but Ore said Joanne still has time to forge a close bond with his wife, Portia.

He told ITV’s This Morning: “My wife and Jo get on so well, I’m the third wheel, I’m the outsider. To have those brilliant blonde bombshells in my life, I’m the cat who got the cream.”

He added: “All I ever wanted to do was get married from about the age of 11.

“If you’re lucky enough to find someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, you have won, that has got to be it.”

The sports presenter, who recently returned from covering the Rio Olympics, added: “It’s our first year of marriage and I’ve barely seen her, but she has been so supportive.

“I have promised her year two will be different. She is my biggest cheerleader.”

Ore, who has been known to cry after winning high praise from the judges, told the show: “I only get emotional about things I really care about so weddings, getting engaged and twice in a row on Strictly Come Dancing, those are the only times in the last two years I have welled up publicly and I don’t cry gracefully – I cry like someone has died.

“There is a picture of me at the altar getting married and I am the one in the middle who can’t keep it together.”