27 April 2024 , 11:47
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Stacey Dooley has revealed Kevin Clifton has Paul O'Grady to thank for his brilliant performances as Loco Chanel in a new touring production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie.
She wrote on Instagram: "Went to go see Kev last night. [in Jamie the musical]. Kev, you are so v v clever. Smaaaaaaashed it. Embodied the role SO seamlessly. Seems the non stop research of lily savage and endless drag literature paid off. Well done darlin. Also, (and perhaps more importantly, congrats to me for bringing the peddle pushers back for April 2024."
For the last week, Everybody's Talking About Jamie has been playing at The Liverpool Empire, and happy patrons echoed 37-year-old Stacey's praise in the comments. One wrote: "He was amazing! Was there last night in Liverpool and it was just the best show." Another added, "Aah we went last night and Kevin was EPIC as Loco! We didn't realise how great he was at singing."
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton pose up at the Liverpool Empire (Instagram)
The couple has been together since 2018 (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Professional ballroom dancer Kev, 41, is playing Hugo in the musical, a man who used to perform as drag queen Loco Chanel. The role has previously been played by John Partridge, Shane Ritchie, and in the film adaption, by Richard E. Grant.
Paul O'Grady, who sadly passed away last March aged 67, enjoyed a decades-long TV career as acerbic drag queen Lily Savage.
Stacey Dooley supported by fans as star 'mum-shamed' ahead of giving birth
Kevin and Stacey fell in love when they were paired on the 2018 series of Strictly Come Dancing. Since then, thrice-married Kev has shed his love rat reputation to start a family with the Luton-born documentary maker. The couple celebrated their daughter Minnie's first birthday in January this year.
But, when Kevin and Stacey were first paired together on Strictly, she was in a seven-year relationship with personal trainer Sam Tucknott, who was regularly seen cheering her on from the audience. Four months later, the pair split and furious Sam went on a rampage, claiming he had found gushing messages between the pair on Stacey's phone as they were clearing out their flat after agreeing to split.
They celebrated their daughter Minnie's first birthday in January (sjdooley / Instagram)"I was getting my stuff to leave. Stacey was in the loo," he alleged at the time. "Her phone went and it was Kevin Clifton - 'I love you' with a red love heart," he added. Branding Latin expert Kevin a "an absolute rat" and a "slippery, slimy snake", Sam ranted: "He's an absolute complete f**king rat with no b******s or decency to hear me out. The fact he won't have a man-to-man conversation with me says everything about the guy."
Both Kevin and Stacey were adamant there was never any crossover, and she took to X (formerly Twitter) to put her side across. "Anyone with any adult life experience knows there are two sides to every story," Stacey wrote. "I haven't got the time or energy to correct some of the utter nonsense I've read on here. Re Sam, I loved him v much and only wish him happiness and success going forward."