Kevin Clifton still loves Strictly Come Dancing

Kevin Clifton still has much "love" for \'Strictly Come Dancing\', despite his decision to leave the show.

The 37-year-old professional dancer announced that he would be leaving the BBC One ballroom series after seven years but insists he is still very passionate about the .

Speaking on \'This Morning\', Kevin said: "I\'ve still got so much love for \'Strictly\'. It didn\'t come to a point where I wanted to walk away, I love it and love everyone who works on the show.

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"I\'ve done seven years on the show and felt I sort of achieved everything that I wanted to achieve."

Kevin has now announced his starring role in \'Strictly Ballroom The Musical\'. He will play the lead role of Scott Hastings in an adaptation of Baz Luhrmann\'s 1992 film, which is being directed by \'Strictly\' judge Craig Revel Horwood.

When asked about what influenced his decision, he told the Zoe Ball\'s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show: "The main reason, is basically when I was 10 years old I watched a film called \'Strictly Ballroom\', that became, sort of, my favourite film, and sort of the inspiration for everything I did after that, and at the time I said they\'re gonna put that on stage one day, that film, and I want to play him, I want to play Scott Hastings."

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Kevin - who won the \'Strictly\' glitterball trophy with his now-girlfriend Stacey Dooley in 2018 - maybe fully focused on his new adventure at the moment but he hasn\'t ruled out a return to the \'Strictly Come Dancing\' dancefloor in the future.

He told \'This Morning\' hosts Eamonn Holmes and Rochelle Humes: "Who knows? I\'ve still got such a lovely relationship with Strictly and the producers of the show were so brilliant when I spoke to them and they told me I would always be part of the Strictly family."

Kevin also admits that he is looking forward to watching the BBC One show as a fan again.

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He remarked: "I\'m really looking forward to watching \'Strictly\' as a fan, I used to watch it before I was on it. Hopefully I\'m paving the way for young dancers to come through and I\'m looking forward to see what they come up with."