They have been plagued by speculation their marriage is on the rocks, two years after tying the knot.
And appearing to add fuel to the fire, Karen Clifton, 35, and husband Kevin, also 35, were seen keeping their distance from each other while attending the wedding of Strictly Come Dancing’s Artistic Director and Choreographer Jason Gilkison in Liverpool on Thursday.
They were joined by a bevy of stars, old and new, from the BBC hit series, including Louise Redknapp, 43, Kevin’s former dance partner, who had performed on the night for guests.
Adding fuel to the fire? Karen Clifton and husband Kevin were seen keeping their distance from each other while attending the wedding of Strictly Come Dancing’s Artistic Director and Choreographer Jason Gilkison in Liverpool on Thursday
In pictures shared by their co-stars Karen and Kevin are seen in good spirits as they attended the wedding of Jason and his partner James Carney at The Palm House inside of Sefton Park.
However, the strained couple do not feature in any snaps together. In a group shot of the wedding party shared by Strictly professional Gorka Marquez, Karen and Kevin are seen posing noticeably apart at opposite ends of the group.
While Karen cut a stunning figure for the lavish affair in a bardot black floor-length gown, Kevin looked smart in an open white shirt and black suit.
During the evening, Karen had taken to Instagram with two shots of herself with the grooms and fellow guests, and without her husband, as she congratulated Jason and James on tying the knot.
Star-studded: They were joined by a bevy of stars, old and new, from the BBC hit series, including Louise Redknapp – Kevin’s former dance partner – who had performed on the night for guests
Noticeably distant: During the evening, Karen had taken to Instagram with two shots of herself with the grooms and fellow guests, and without her husband, as she congratulated Jason and James on tying the knot
Beaming from ear-to-ear as she cuddled up to her close friends, she penned: ‘Many congratulations to one of my mentors and someone who I look up to and adore @jasongilkison and his amazing husband @jamespcarney who is my kitty Kat sidekick.
‘Love u both and u know how to throw a partaaayyy!!!’
She featured in a number of videos shared by the Strictly stars in attendance and was seen dancing the night away with her fellow wedding guests.
Kevin, meanwhile, posed with his male co-stars in a dapper shot shared to social media by Aljaz Skorjanec. Rubbing shoulders with Gorka Marquez, Giovanni Pernice, Neil Jones and AJ Pritchard, Kevin appeared to put on a brave face amid his marital woes, as he smiled for the camera.
Sticking with the boys: Rubbing shoulders with Gorka Marquez, Giovanni Pernice, Neil Jones and AJ Pritchard, Kevin appeared to put on a brave face amid his marital woes, as he smiled for the camera
Dressed to impress: Karen cut a stunning figure for the lavish affair in a bardot black floor-length gown for the bash
Marital woes: Her appearance at the wedding with husband Kevin comes amid mounting speculation the duo have split
In an awkward turn of events, his former dance partner Louise had also been in attendance at the wedding, where she had performed a number of her hits up on stage.
She joined Karen and Kevin at the bash following reports surfacing claiming his wife Karen had allegedly told Louise’s husband Jamie Redknapp to ‘keep her away’ from her beau when the footballer rang her with concerns of an affair.
Sources claim the Strictly Come Dancing professional had been ‘very upset’ at the time of the call and had told Jamie to ‘try and keep Louise’ away from Kevin, accusing the singer of ‘ruining’ her marriage.
After becoming aware of Louise ‘texting’ Kevin, Jamie reportedly decided to reach out to Karen, with the source claiming: ‘He made the decision to call Karen without Louise’s knowledge, which was a very hard thing for him to do.
Awkward: Louise had joined Karen and Kevin at the bash following reports surfacing claiming his wife Karen had allegedly told Louise’s husband Jamie Redknapp to ‘keep her away’ from her beau when the footballer rang her with concerns of an affair
Sources claim Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen had been ‘very upset’ at the time of the call and had told Jamie to ‘try and keep Louise’ away from Kevin, accusing the singer of ‘ruining’ her marriage
‘He asked Karen if he thought their partners were having an affair. Karen was very upset at the time and that’s when she asked Jamie to try and keep Louise away from Kevin.’
The source added that ’emotions had been running high’, while another source deemed close to Louise claimed the Naked singer had been left ‘furious’ by husband Jamie’s actions, as she had been friends with Karen and the accusations had made things between them ‘unnecessarily uncomfortable’.
MailOnline had contacted a representative for Karen and Kevin and representatives for both Louise and Jamie.
Louise had been spotted out with Kevin and pals shortly after the claims surfaced, suggesting the pair were unfazed by the reports.
Split: Her appearance at the wedding came just hours before she was granted a decree nisi in just 25 seconds from husband of 19 years Jamie, after confirming their split in October
Loving family: Jamie and Louise are parents to sons, Charley, 13, and Beau, nine (pictured together on a family holiday July 2016)
Her appearance at the wedding came just hours before she was granted a decree nisi in just 25 seconds from husband of 19 years Jamie, after confirming their split in October.
It was revealed that it was Louise who had filed for divorce earlier in the year, whilst Jamie’s ‘unreasonable behaviour’ was dubbed the reason for their split. The couple were granted a decree nisi at the Central Family Court in London and did not attend the hearing.
The judge held that the respondent [Jamie] had behaved ‘in such a way that the petitioner [Louise] cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent’.
It was announced: ‘The petitioner has sufficiently proved the contents of the petition here in and is entitled to a decree of divorce, the marriage having irretrievably broken down, the facts found proved being the respondent’s unreasonable behaviour.’
It’s over! It was revealed that it was Louise who had filed for divorce earlier in the year, whilst Jamie’s ‘unreasonable behaviour’ was dubbed the reason for their split
Troubles: The divorce came amid claims the former England star was ‘uncomfortable’ with his wife’s return to the spotlight after her stint on Strictly last year – Jamie has since denied this
Jamie did not contest the findings and it was concluded that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and would be dissolved in six weeks giving they reach amicable terms on custody of their two sons, Charley, 13, and Beau, nine, and no objections are formally made.
Their split was confirmed months ago in October, with Louise moving out of the family home.
While she was only hours away from her divorce while attending the wedding in Liverpool, Louise appeared to brush off her martial woes as she entertained the gathered guests.
She ensured all eyes would be on her at the party, as she was clad in a baby pink suit that she teamed with a crisp black shirt and towering heels.
Coming into her own: Louise previously spoke of loving her ‘amazing’ partner but admitted she felt like a ‘sort of Stepford wife’ who is ‘coming back to who I really am’
Strained: Karen and Kevin, meanwhile, spent Christmas Day apart in order to ‘give each other space’, amid their marital woes, according to reports
Louise previously spoke of loving her ‘amazing’ partner but admitted she felt like a ‘sort of Stepford wife’ who is ‘coming back to who I really am’. The divorce came amid claims the former England star was ‘uncomfortable’ with his wife’s return to the spotlight after her stint on Strictly last year.
Jamie, however, denied these claims.
Karen and Kevin, meanwhile, spent Christmas Day apart in order to ‘give each other space’, amid their marital woes, according to reports. Kevin spent the festive holiday with his sister after Karen reportedly jetted to the United States to spend time with her family.
Kevin later admitted he was unwinding with his parents on Boxing Day by watching a theatrical version of Cinderella on TV.
The post comes after Karen was seen larking around with her nieces in a series of Instagram snaps – although she still sported her wedding ring in one image.
Apart: Kevin spent the festive holiday with his sister (pictured above) after Karen reportedly jetted to the United States to spend time with her family
Time out: Karen was seen larking around with her nieces in a series of Instagram snaps – still sported her wedding ring despite being away from her husband
Playing around in the sweet snaps, posted just five days before Christmas, she appeared to be ready for a festive season without her husband.
A source told The Sun ahead of Christmas: ‘Karen will fly to New York and spend it with her family while Kevin plans to travel up to Grimsby to be with his. Right now they are just trying to get through the last two weeks of Strictly and then need some space.
‘They will get back together after Christmas and decide what they are going to do. Right now their marriage hangs in the balance and their future together as a couple looks very uncertain.’
Kevin and Karen married in an idyllic ceremony in July 2015, with a bevy of superstar guests however earlier this year they were first hit with reports of strife.
Speaking about his wife after their wedding, Kevin said: ‘We have such a good laugh together all the time. My life wouldn’t be what it is today if it wasn’t for Karen. She’s perfect. She’s always been my best friend.’
Happier days: The couple married in an idyllic ceremony in July 2015, with a bevy of superstar guests however earlier this year they were first hit with reports of strife
Karen is said to have become embroiled in an affair with accountant Stuart Wood – however, the couple are said to have split at the end of last month.
Insiders told The Sun: ‘It was never a long term thing and Karen realises that she made a mistake. She ended things with Stuart shortly after the news broke. He is heartbroken as he thought they had a future together’.
Despite being plagued by split rumours, the couple are scheduled to head out on a live tour together in May. The Kevin and Karen Tour 2018 will see the Strictly Come Dancing couple perform ballroom and Latin routines with a supporting troupe of dancers and a 12 piece band.
They will take to the floor in venues in Northampton, Reading, Oxford, Manchester, London and York before finishing up in Dublin on July 29.
The pair previously said of the tour: ‘We’ve been working for such a long time to get our own tour off the ground and we didn’t know how the first one was going to be received, and much to our delight it went better than we could have dreamed of!’
‘Doing our own tour is a dream come true and we can’t wait to come back with something totally new and exciting.’
Awkward? Despite being plagued by split rumours, the couple are scheduled to head out on a live tour together in May