Strictly’s Karen Hauer continued to put on a loved up display with ex rugby player Simon Davidson as they left the BBC tour’s first live show in Birmingham on Friday – just hours after confirming the romance.
The Venezuelan dancer, 41, who split from husband of 16-months Jordan Wyn-Jones last year, held hands with her hunky new boyfriend while leaving the Utilita Arena.
Karen layered a quirky oversized yellow coat over a green tracksuit and slipped her feet into comfy trainers after dancing her socks off on stage.
Meanwhile Simon – who now works as a senior sports marketing manager for Adidas – kept a low profile in a hoodie and jeans after supporting Karen’s first perfomance.
The new romance comes after the pair was first spotted together at the BBC show’s final in December following her shock split from husband Jordan.
Strictly’s Karen Hauer, 41, continued to put on a loved up display with ex rugby player Simon Davidson as they left the BBC series’ first live show in Birmingham on Friday – just hours after confirming the romance.
The Venezuelan dancer, who split from husband of 16-months Jordan Wyn-Jones last year, held hands with her hunky new boyfriend while leaving the Utilita Arena
The dancer is said to have enjoyed a recent romantic getaway with the personal trainer and Marketing Manager after being introduced by co-star Gorka Marquez and his partner Gemma Atkinson.
A source told The Mirror: ‘Karen and Simon have lots in common, so when Gemma and Gorka introduced them, they hit it off immediately’.
‘Karen was keen to take things slowly and they were friends for a while at first. But gradually things became romantic, and though they have tried to keep their relationship quiet, they are now a proper couple’.
Adding: Karen’s friends and family are thrilled, because 2023 was an incredibly hard year for her and all they want is to see her happy.’
MailOnline has contacted a representative for Karen for comment at the time.
Karen and her estranged husband Jordan married in 2022, describing the ceremony as a ‘fairytale’ at the time, but sources claimed the pair had gone their separate ways after a ‘tough time’.
Karen’s estranged husband Jordan later told how their relationship crumbled just 16 months after their wedding day as Karen waltzed off to rehearsals leaving him at home.
Karen layered a quirky oversized yellow coat over a green tracksuit and slipped her feet into comfy trainers after dancing her socks off on stage.
Meanwhile Simon – who now works as a senior sports marketing manager for Adidas – kept a low profile in a hoodie and jeans after supporting Karen’s first perfomance
They headed together back to the hotel where all the Strictly stars were staying
The lovebirds proudly held hands as they strolled along the street
The new romance comes after the pair was first spotted together at the BBC show’s final in December following her shock split from husband Jordan
He told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It’s a bit of a love story, a sad story. I’m incredibly sad not to be in Karen’s life, and not be on this journey with her but we’re not right for each other in terms of her career. I will always admire her for her career but it took her away from me a lot. She’d be away and I’d be at home on my own.’
Central to their break-up was that his wish to start a family clashed with Karen’s commitment to the show as its longest-serving professional.
Having talked about having children, they moved from Karen’s home in Wimbledon, South West London, to the North of England where they settled in the countryside with their four dogs.
But instead of cosy nights in, Jordan says their relationship became a series of video and phone calls as his wife, an American-Venezuelan ballroom champion, travelled around the country.
Bobby Brazier was spotted leaving earlier in the day as he headed to the show
Judges Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood were both in high spirits
It Takes Two presenter Janette Manrara hosts the live tour (pictured with pro Graziano Di Prima)
Judge Anton Du Beke toted his essentials in a hold all as he headed to the arena
Proffesional dancer Nadiya Bychkovas pictured
‘Karen’s dedicated to her career, which she has worked really hard for,’ Jordan said. ‘She’s amazing and I admire her for it. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to marry her – because of how powerful she is.
‘But we wanted different things. There was a plan about having children but then there wasn’t a plan.
‘When we first met, we discussed it. You do say things like, ‘I want to have kids’. And she’d mentioned to me that she wanted to have kids with me. But in the interview, Karen said ‘kids aren’t the future’ – which did make me sad. I’ve always wanted to be a father.
‘I wouldn’t say it was a shock but I knew subconsciously in the back of my head… why would she want to have a child with me?
‘I’d become vacant in our relationship. I was loving and so caring for her but I was vacant because of the situation that we found ourselves in.’
Jordan said they broke down crying as they admitted their marriage was over: ‘There were tears on both sides. A lot of tears and sadness. We didn’t want to let go of each other but we’re also not right for each other.
‘If we’d stayed together and we didn’t have a family, I felt I would have ended up resenting her. This is the perfect moment for us to love each other and leave each other.’
The show saw the celebs one again take to the dance floor (Angela Rippon pictured)
