Smitten: Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev at her London home
After weeks of flirting and fevered speculation, nearly 15million viewers watched as dance partners Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev finally shared a passionate kiss.
The winners of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing have twirled straight into an off-screen romance.
But while Miss Tointon, 27, is considered by those who know her to be a thoroughly decent person, adored by cast and crew during her four-year stint as Dawn Swann in EastEnders, her new boyfriend has received a far less glowing character assessment - from his ex-wife.
And unlike Miss Tointon, who has only had three previous boyfriends, Chigvintsev has a track record of ‘dating up’ – American slang for somebody whose love life conveniently improves their lot.
Among those he has whisked off their feet is a judge from U.S. show Dancing With The Stars, who was 14 years his senior. Before her was Giselle Peacock, an American champion ballroom dancer, who became his wife.
But Miss Peacock has accused the 28-year-old Russian of being ‘obsessed with fame, success and money’ and suspects he married her solely to secure a green card.
She claims that her former husband dumped her just eight months after their wedding – on the day he was picked to star in another U.S. show, So You Think You Can Dance.
Over: With ex-wife Giselle Peacock, who Artem married in 2004
She said: ‘When Artem and I got married I believed it was for love. But for a long time after we split up I questioned if underneath it all, Artem was just looking for a green card, which are easier to get if you’re married.
‘He was a sweet, skinny Russian boy when I met him. But he became more and more obsessed with fame, success and money. Artem loves pretty women and he loves to be in the limelight.’
Miss Tointon certainly fits the bill. But the actress, who split up with former EastEnders co-star Joe Swash in May, has remained cautious about her blossoming relationship with Chigvintsev, admitting it could merely be a ‘holiday romance’.
She added: ‘You don’t know until the whole weird [Strictly] experience is over as to how it will go. I can’t wait for Artem to meet my friends and just do normal things and see what happens from there. But I would hate to set myself up for a fall.’
Chemistry: Kara and Artem's mutual attraction was obvious on the Strictly dancefloor
Champions: Artem and Kara embrace after winning the 2010 Strictly Come Dancing final
Miss Peacock, 29, also enjoyed a whirlwind romance when she met Chigvintsev during a dance championship in Blackpool in 2003. Soon afterwards, he flew from Russia to join her at a friend’s wedding.
‘He never left,’ she said. ‘We fell hard for each other. Artem didn’t have anywhere to stay, so I took him to my dad’s house in California where we shared a room.
‘We were inseparable. We started dancing together as partners within weeks of his arrival. My dad agreed to sponsor Artem to get a work visa so we could continue training together. He literally had no money, so for the first eight months I supported him by buying all his food, clothes, dance classes, entertainment.’
Proud pair: Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev clasp the Strictly trophy after their victory last weekend
The duo achieved success as dance partners and at one point were ranked third in America’s ballroom standings.
They married in November 2004 in a simple ceremony at a local courthouse – mainly because Miss Peacock wanted to travel outside the country and was nervous that Chigvintsev would not be allowed back in if he left.
However, just weeks into their marriage, the couple began to argue. Things came to a head when Miss Peacock decided to audition for So You Think You Can Dance in 2005.
She said: ‘Artem wasn’t interested until he did some research on the programme and then suddenly insisted he would do it with me.’
While Chigvintsev wowed the judges and went on to become a popular finalist, his wife failed to make the cut. Miss Peacock said: ‘It was like it instantly went to his head. I went home and Artem never came back with me. He literally disappeared out of my life.
‘He stopped taking my calls. He never even went back to my dad’s house to pick up his clothes.
‘In the end all I could do was leave him a voicemail saying: “As you won’t talk to me, I thought I’d let you know that I want a divorce.”’
In 2006, before his divorce papers had been signed, Chigvintsev began a two-year romance with Carrie Ann Inaba, a judge on Dancing With The Stars – the U.S. version of Strictly. Being with Miss Inaba, 14 years his senior, catapulted him into U.S. gossip columns.
But Miss Inaba told how she was the one with the money in their relationship, saying: ‘I’m more the breadwinner right now, but I actually think that things will change.’
Yesterday, a source close to Miss Tointon said: ‘Kara knows Artem has a past, so you can’t blame her for being cautious.’
Prior to her two year relationship with Swash, Tointon dated EastEnders co-star James Alexandrou for a year and Busted rocker James Bourne for several years before that.
Happy couple: Artem and Kara have waltzed into a relationship after their Strictly triumph
Source:Dailymail