STRICTLY favourite Ross King had a discreet romance with a high-profile and glamorous BBC presenter following the collapse of his marriage — a relationship that insiders insist began after the split, though not without controversy.
The 63-year-old TV correspondent divorced American real estate agent Brianna Deutsch in 2019 after four years of marriage. Sources close to the couple describe the period before the divorce as emotionally fraught, and while Ross maintains there was no crossover, those close to Brianna say she privately questioned the timeline — and that her suspicions over whether the fling began earlier contributed to the breakdown and communication rift between them.
Friends insist the romance only turned intimate after Ross and Brianna separated, and deny any betrayal. “They had been friends for a while, but nothing happened until long after the separation,” one insider explained. “They both wanted to avoid attention because of their public profiles.”
However, those near Brianna say she struggled with the secrecy and timing, fearing the relationship may have begun before the marriage officially ended, even though Ross denies it. While she has not publicly accused him, insiders claim the doubt alone deepened hurt and mistrust in the final stages of their marriage.
The fling, kept deliberately private, eventually fizzled out — and Ross moved on. He is now in a stable relationship with restaurant executive Bridget Siegel, who recently showed her support from the Strictly audience, flying 5,000 miles to be by his side.
Ross has addressed his past marriages with humour and reflection, saying he remains a firm believer in love despite two divorces. Friends say the Strictly spotlight has been intense, but he is “taking it in stride” and focusing on his new chapter.
The glamorous BBC presenter at the centre of the past romance has never been publicly named — and neither she nor Ross have acknowledged the relationship — adding to the lingering fascination among viewers and industry insiders.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: even after the marriages, the secrecy, and the whispers, Ross appears to be in a happier place and committed to moving forward — though the questions raised by his ex-wife about the timing of the relationship remain part of the story and help explain the strain that contributed to their split.
