Dancing On Ice pro skater Alexandra Murphy has split from her boyfriend after two years, it has been reported.
The end of the TV performer’s relationship has been likened to the ‘Strictly curse’ which has seen numerous contestants’ romances flounder during their time on the BBC dancing show. However, there is no suggestion anyone else is involved in the break up.
According to The Sun, 30-year-old Alex and her medical student fella Marcus Stammen called it a day on their long distance relationship after struggling to balance her work with seeing one another.
It is believed Marcus, 26, lives and studies in Chicago.
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It is also claimed he called time on them being together at Christmas as she prioritised appearing on the ITV series.
Alex, who is partnered with Westlife’s Brian McFadden for the show, is said to have been floored by the unexpected news.
An unnamed TV insider is also quoted as the timing of the dumping was “awful” for Alex, who reached the show’s semi-final with Love Island winner Kim Cetinay during the last series of DOI.
“Marcus called time on their relationship due to the amount of time Alex was spending in the UK due to her work commitments – leaving her distraught,” the source is reported to have said.
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The source continued: “She was devastated after he finished it on Christmas Eve, which was awful timing.
“Alex had no idea that he was planning on ending things between them; both agreed it was tough having a long distance relationship but their split came as a shock to her.”
Similar to Strictly, DOI has had its fair share of relationship breakdowns – and also romantic developments between contestants – over the years the series has aired.
Former England footballer David Seaman married Frankie Poultney in 2015, after partnering her on the ninth series of the show in 2014.
Sylvain Longchambon also met his future wife on the show when dancing with Corrie actress Samia Ghadie in 2013.
He was previously also in a relationship with Jennifer Metcalfe, who he danced with during the 2011 series.
Only last week DOI’s creative director Dan Whiston told viewers to “watch this space” as he teased potential upcoming romances on the show.
But fans hoping Alex might turn to a colleague to help mend her broken heart are likely to be very disappointed.
Skating partner Brian, formerly married to Kerry Katona and Vogue Williams, is already in a devoted relationship with Rochdale PE teacher Danielle Parkinson.
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