Strictly star Kevin Clifton shares a heartbreaking tribute to his friend who has died aged 35 after tragic cancer battle

Kevin Clifton has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his friend Jonathan Clough who has sadly died at the age of 37.

Former producer Jonathan was living with an incurable brain tumour after being diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma in 2024. 

An appeal had been launched to help raise funds for Jonathan – whose hit shows include Strictly, The Apprentice and Gogglebox – to fund specialist treatment for the dad-of-two.

On Saturday, Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin, 43, took to Instagram as he paid tribute to his beloved friend. 

He shared that Jonathan put up a ‘heck of a fight’ as he posted a throwback selfie with him at the Britsh Grand Prix wearing matching McLaren bucket hats. 

He wrote: ‘An amazing friend, an amazing man , an amazing father and a heck of a fighter for his amazing family. I will miss you forever’. 

Kevin Clifton has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his friend Jonathan Clough who has sadly died at the age of 37

Former producer Jonathan was living with an incurable brain tumour after being diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma in 2024

On Saturday, Strictly Come Dancing star Kevin, 43, took to Instagram as he paid tribute to his beloved friend

Kevin was inundated with messages of support from friends and fans as they offered their condolences.

His girlfriend Stacey Dooley was one of the first to react as she shared a heart emoji.

Kevin and Stacey first met in 2018 when they were partnered on Strictly Come Dancing, going on to win the coveted glitterball trophy.

They’ve been together ever since and welcomed their daughter Minnie in January 2023.

Kevin left BBC’s Strictly in 2020 after seven years on the show, and has since starred in stage hits such as Chicago and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. 

It comes after long-serving presenters Tess Daley and Claudia Winkleman quit Strictly last year leaving the Saturday night hosting gig up for grabs. 

And head judge Shirley Ballas has revealed that her mum wants Rylan Clark to replace the duo.

Shirley, who lives with her mother Audrey Rich, 88, told the Wimbledon BookFest: ‘If my mother had her way, it would be Rylan Clark who replaces them.’

The This Morning presenter is one of the favourites to replace the duo, however other frontrunners in the mix to replace the hosts include Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby as well as Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton.

An appeal had been launched to help raise funds for Jonathan – whose hit shows include Strictly, The Apprentice and Gogglebox – to fund specialist treatment for the dad-of-two

Kevin was inundated with messages of support from fans and girlfriend Stacey Dooley as they offered their condolences

Asked if she had any ideas who she’d like to see replace them, Shirley said: ‘Oh absolutely darling, but I couldn’t reveal.’

Shirley also confessed that she will also walk away from the much-loved dance show one day.

She added: ‘I have a very good relationship with them. But sometimes in people’s lives — and we have to respect this — they are ready to move on.

‘We don’t want them to move on, but they are ready to move on. And one day I’ll be ready to move on, and that will be my choice when I feel I’m ready to go.

‘And somebody else will come in, and after a show or two you’ll fall in love with the next person.’

Shirley, who has worked with the hosts since joining the judging panel in 2017, said: ‘I will miss them tremendously. I can only wish them both well wherever they land, and they’re going to do an amazing job.’

Shirley said that the show would continue to ‘thrive’ without the presenting duo despite recent controversies which have plagued the show.

She said: ‘Strictly Come Dancing will thrive as long as it’s bringing joy to the general public. There’ll always be outrage and always, “Oh, this is going to die, that’s going to die, the show won’t be anything without them.”

‘I will actually miss them myself but things move on. It’s bigger than anybody — bigger than any star, celebrity, judge, presenter. Strictly is for the public.

It comes as Kevin and Stacey are reportedly in the running for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s Strictly hosting gig after the pair shocked fans by quitting last year

‘You are the people it is there for, and I’m sad to see them go because from the very beginning, particularly Claudia and Tess were there to show me every single step.’

She described the pair as ‘great anchors’ of the show and was effusive in her praise of them backstage.

She said: ‘If you saw the relationship — I’m fortunate enough to have the changing room next to them — Motsi and all the other guys, they’re a bit further down the corridor, but I’m right next to them.

‘The laughter, the fun, the relationship they’ve got and how serious they take their jobs has been… and I’ve learned so much. It’s a sight to behold. It’s fantastic.’