Strictly Come Dancing: Fans break down into tears as Karen and Kevin Clifton dance together

Eagle-eyed fans got emotional when they spotted estranged married couple Kevin and Karen Clifton dancing together on Strictly during Friday’s episode.

The former flames have continued to put on a united front following the announcement of their split in March earlier this year after three years of marriage.

Viewers freely expressed the moment they were partnered up in the group dance ‘melted their hearts’.

Strictly Come Dancing: Emotional fans break down into tears as estranged couple Karen and Kevin Clifton dance together

They wrote: ‘I find it so cute that Karen and Kevin still dance together on Strictly even though they’re not married anymore like we can STAN a friendship.’

‘Seeing Kevin and Karen dancing makes my heart melt. #truelove’

‘So I’m never sure, are Kevin and Karen separated?’

‘Kevin and Karen dancing to that beautiful song made me quite teary and emotional #Strictly.’ 

Heartbreaking: Viewers freely expressed the moment they were partnered up in the group dance 'melted their hearts'

Heartbreaking: Viewers freely expressed the moment they were partnered up in the group dance ‘melted their hearts’

The couple affirmed they would remain partners on a professional level, and have since embarked on their joint Karen and Kevin Live tour, which wrapped in July.

Kevin told BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans: ‘We wanted to let everyone know that privately we’re not together anymore, but professionally we are stronger than ever.

‘Dance has always been the thing… dance is how we came together and has been the glue that held us together for years now.

‘We’re still the best of friends, we’ve got a lot of love and respect for each other, I still pretty much see Karen every day.’

The pair said they wanted to speak out and ‘be upfront’ with their fans because there had been ‘a lot of talk’ about their relationship in recent months.

Kevin went on: ‘What we’ve found is, since we’ve been honest with each other about our relationship, it’s unlocked a new wealth of creativity.

‘We feel like we’re stronger than ever and taking our dance partnership and professional relationship to the next level now, which is why we’re so excited about this tour.’

Elsewhere, Strictly Come Dancing fans were horrified when Shirley Ballas launched a scathing attack on Seann Walsh’s appearance after his dance on Saturday night.

Viewers at home branded the head judge as ‘rude and vile’ for her venomous comments about the British comedian’s ‘untidy hair’. 

Following his edgy dance with Katya Jones, Shirley couldn’t resist asking the dancer to ‘tidy’ up his appearance — referring to his curly hair.

Strictly Come Dancing: Fans brand Shirley Ballas 'rude' and 'vile' after laying into Seann Walsh for his 'untidy' hair

Strictly Come Dancing: Fans brand Shirley Ballas ‘rude’ and ‘vile’ after laying into Seann Walsh for his ‘untidy’ hair

She told the Strictly hopeful: ‘Tidy yourself up.’

Outspoken Seann hit back at the judge: ‘I thought we were only going to be talking about the dancing!’

He made a joke of her comments: ‘Can you have a wash before you come on stage?’

Fans flooded social media with criticism about the Strictly judge for her ‘rude’ and ‘vile’ comments towards the hunky comedian. 

It's personal: Following his edgy dance with Katya Jones, Shirley couldn't resist asking the dancer to 'tidy' up his appearance — referring to his curly hair

It’s personal: Following his edgy dance with Katya Jones, Shirley couldn’t resist asking the dancer to ‘tidy’ up his appearance — referring to his curly hair

They wrote: ‘Let keep on thinking she’s loved by thr viewers. We know the truth. What she said to Seann was VILE!’

‘Seann’s hair is better than this guys……but obviously Shirley doesn’t mind his hair being down #Strictly.’

‘Shirley was a bit harsh with Seann…don’t criticise someone’s hair or appearance! #Strictly.’

‘Never mind Sexy Back, Seann needs to loosen his back. Apologies for the time delay #SCD #Strictly.’

Outrage: Fans flooded social media with criticism about the Strictly judge for her 'rude' and 'vile' comments towards the hunky comedian

Outrage: Fans flooded social media with criticism about the Strictly judge for her ‘rude’ and ‘vile’ comments towards the hunky comedian

Topical: With hotly-anticipated series The Bodyguard wrapping up this weekend, Seann Walsh and Katya Jones' bodyguard-inspired dance got people talking

Topical: With hotly-anticipated series The Bodyguard wrapping up this weekend, Seann Walsh and Katya Jones’ bodyguard-inspired dance got people talking

So sexy: The couple commanded attention with their Tango to SexyBack by Justin Timberlake

So sexy: The couple commanded attention with their Tango to SexyBack by Justin Timberlake

‘That was a bit rude coming from Shirley saying Seann needs to tidy himself up, it shouldn’t matter how his hair is, it makes no difference to how he dances, he took it well but if it was a male judge saying that to a female contestant, everyone would hate it #Strictly.’

With hotly-anticipated series The Bodyguard wrapping up this weekend, Seann Walsh and Katya Jones’ bodyguard-inspired dance got people talking.

The couple commanded attention with their Tango to SexyBack by Justin Timberlake.

Darcey said: ‘This animal of a bodyguard. You were very focused. You were playing that tango role very well. Incredibly attentive.’

Leggy lady: Strictly Come Dancing: Claudia Winkleman, 46, parades her legs in sparkling mini dress as she joins stylish co-host Tess Daly

Leggy lady: Strictly Come Dancing: Claudia Winkleman, 46, parades her legs in sparkling mini dress as she joins stylish co-host Tess Daly

Cheeky! Actor Danny John-Jules opened the first live show with his professional partner Amy Dowden with the Foxtrot, securing a modest 27

Cheeky! Actor Danny John-Jules opened the first live show with his professional partner Amy Dowden with the Foxtrot, securing a modest 27

Exciting: The well-paired couple put a smile on everyone's faces as they moved across the Strictly dance floor to the Top Cat Theme by Hoyt Curtin

Exciting: The well-paired couple put a smile on everyone’s faces as they moved across the Strictly dance floor to the Top Cat Theme by Hoyt Curtin

A whole galaxy of stars will battle it out live for the first time this series as they dance with their professional dancers.

Charles Venn and Karen Clifton made the Cha Cha Cha look easy when they danced to Ain’t No Love (Ain’t Not Use) by Sub Sub featuring Melanie Williams.

The couple, securing 25 for their dance, both looked incredibly red hot in their scarlet sexy ensembles. 

Bruno said: ‘I see red hot smouldering. The dancing was good too.’

All the couples will sail through to the next week as there will be no public vote but their scores will be carried over to next week. 

Actor Danny John-Jules opened the first live show with his professional partner Amy Dowden with the Foxtrot, securing a modest 27.

The well-paired couple put a smile on everyone’s faces as they moved across the Strictly dance floor to the Top Cat Theme by Hoyt Curtin.

Comments: Bruno Tonioli cheekily quipped: 'She's purring already! You know how to make an entrance. Making the stage your own. A little bit of jazzy touches.'

Comments: Bruno Tonioli cheekily quipped: ‘She’s purring already! You know how to make an entrance. Making the stage your own. A little bit of jazzy touches.’

Head judge Shirley Ballas: ‘That number to open with was outstanding… I’m in love.’

Bruno Tonioli cheekily quipped: ‘She’s purring already! You know how to make an entrance. Making the stage your own. A little bit of jazzy touches.’  

Darcey Bussell branded the actor as ‘one to watch’ in the competition as she gushed over his grand entrance.

Dance off! BBC News broadcaster Kate Silverton showed off her sexy side when she did the Cha Cha Cha with Aljaž Skorjanec to Kiss by Tom Jones

Dance off! BBC News broadcaster Kate Silverton showed off her sexy side when she did the Cha Cha Cha with Aljaž Skorjanec to Kiss by Tom Jones

Saucy! Bruno said: 'You don't get that at the news at lunch. I want to see that everyday! I had no idea you could be such a saucy minx. You look like you enjoyed it!'

Saucy! Bruno said: ‘You don’t get that at the news at lunch. I want to see that everyday! I had no idea you could be such a saucy minx. You look like you enjoyed it!’

BBC News broadcaster Kate Silverton showed off her sexy side when she did the Cha Cha Cha with Aljaž Skorjanec to Kiss by Tom Jones. 

Bruno said: ‘You don’t get that at the news at lunch. I want to see that everyday! I had no idea you could be such a saucy minx. You look like you enjoyed it!’ 

Darcey added: ‘You were oozing that sexy lady role! The performance value was extraordinary! You might have been fudging the technique.’ 

Great personality! Darcey added: 'You were oozing that sexy lady role! The performance value was extraordinary! You might have been fudging the technique.'

Great personality! Darcey added: ‘You were oozing that sexy lady role! The performance value was extraordinary! You might have been fudging the technique.’

Having just won gold from Australia, Lauren Steadman showed no signs of jet lag when she put on a beautiful performance on the Strictly dance floor. 

The athlete looked every inch the princess in her glittering pink ballgown when she danced with AJ Pritchard. 

Having danced with just two days practice, Lauren and AJ pulled off a fantastic Waltz to I’m Kissing You by Des’ree.

Craig Revel Horwood said: ‘Impressive darling.’ 

Vick Hope and Graziano Di Prima threw shapes to chart-topping song Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man during their lively Jive.

Keep on going: Vick Hope and Graziano Di Prima threw shapes to chart-topping song Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man during their lively Jive

Keep on going: Vick Hope and Graziano Di Prima threw shapes to chart-topping song Feel It Still by Portugal. The Man during their lively Jive

Susannah and Anton Du Beck put on an energetic performance while dancing the Samba to Tico Tico by Carmen Miranda, securing only 12 points. 

Praised for her beautiful and feminine storytelling, Ashley Roberts and Pasha Kovalev made the most of the ballroom dancing to Perfect by Ed Sheeran featuring Beyoncé.

The Pussycat Dolls singer swapped her sexy stage moves to pull off a graceful Waltz as she sets her sights on the Glitter Ball trophy. 

Dr Ranj Singh and Janette Manrara are going to Cha Cha Cha to Whitney Houston’s How Will I Know.

Pop star Faye Tozer and Giovanni Pernice will do their Cha Cha Cha to Lullaby by Sigala featuring Paloma Faith.

England and cricket legend Graeme Swann and Oti Mabuse are going to Samba to Soul Limbo by Booker T and The M.G.’s.

Taking to the dance floor, Joe Sugg and Dianne Buswell will jive to Take Me On by A-Ha. 

Katie Piper and Gorka Márquez are going to Waltz to When We Were Young by Adele. 

Lee and Nadiya, who have already become firm friends, will Waltz to Take It To The Limit by The Eagles.  

Stacey and Kevin Clifton will Quickstep their way onto the Strictly ballroom floor to Dancing by Kylie Minogue. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk