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STRICTLY's choreographer and professional dancer Ian Waite has secretly split from husband Drew Merriman.

The pair decided to go their separate ways after seven years of marriage.

Strictly star Ian Waite has split from his husband
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Strictly star Ian Waite has split from his husbandCredit: Rex Features
Ian and Drew split "a while ago"
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Ian and Drew split "a while ago"Credit: ianjwaite/Instagram

Despite their break-up the former couple have remained friends.

Ian confirmed his split to The Sun saying: "My split with Drew was nothing whatsoever to do with any so called Strictly ‘curse’.

"It was more about us having different outlooks on life and what relationships should be like, which meant we were not compatible.

"I wish Drew and his new partner all the best for the future."

Read more on Strictly

Ian and Drew tied the knot in 2017 in front of a number of Ian's Strictly co-stars.

The likes of Craig Revel-Horwood and Anton Du Beke made an appearance.

They announced the happy news on an episode of It Takes Two that year.

The Sun have contacted Ian's rep for comment.

At the end of Pride month, Drew took to Instagram to share some pictures of the new man in his life Jon McMahon.

Drew said: "I get to be me, and do all of this with the most incredible man by my side. It was just a normal day at work, until it wasn’t.

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"We started talking and everything just seemed to fall into place. You are the most incredible person I’ve met.

"You are there through everything I go through. We laugh together, we cry together and I’m so lucky that I can call you my boyfriend.

"After some of the most difficult years of my life you have made things make sense, and made me know what I want and where I want to be in this world (@jon_mcmahon1 )."

Dancer Ian has been part of the BBC show since 2004.

Over the years he has been paired with Denise Lewis, Zoe Ball, Mica Paris, Jodie Kiss and Jade Johnson.

Ian and Drew tied the knot in 2017
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Ian and Drew tied the knot in 2017Credit: ianjwaite/Instagram
Ian dancing with Michelle Williams in 2010
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Ian dancing with Michelle Williams in 2010Credit: Handout

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