Is Chris Appleton married and does he have children? Inside the Strictly Come Dancing star's private life
Chris has suffered both personal highs and lows over the yearsChris Appleton is making his live show debut on Strictly Come Dancing tonight but fans are desperate to know more about him – namely, is he married and does he have kids?
The hairdresser to the stars, 43, is partnered with Amy Dowden in this year’s series of Strictly.
Tonight (Saturday September 26, 2026), Chris and Amy will be dancing a Tango to No Roots by Alice Merton.
But who will be cheering Chris on from the sidelines?
Here, we take a look at whether Chris is married and whether he has children?
Is Strictly Come Dancing’s Chris Appleton married?
Chris was born in Leicester but he now splits his time between the UK and US. When in the UK, he stays at his 1760s Georgian manor in the Cotswolds. When in the States, Chris lives in Los Angeles.
Chris is believed to be single following his divorce from his husband, White Lotus star Lukas Gage. The couple tied the knot in 2023 following a whirlwind romance. They met in the February, got engaged a month later and married in April 2023.
But by 2024, it was already over.
Chris, who has worked with Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande, previously spoke about his divorce with Lukas. He called it “painful”.
Speaking last year on the Jay Shetty Podcast, Chris said: “I think people have this perception, from social media probably, that I have it together. I work with these amazing people, life looks glamorous.
“But the truth is, especially during that time, I was going through a lot of private pain.”
Chris added: “Moving fast doesn’t always mean you’re reckless. I think sometimes it means you’re hopeful.
“Any relationship I’ve ever been into, I’ve gone into with an open heart. And I have no regrets about that… I would rather love and fall than to never feel anything at all.”
Does Chris Appleton have children?
Yes, Chris does have children. He had them during a long-term relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Katie Katon. They were never married.
The couple welcomed Billy in December 2002, with daughter Kitty-Blu arriving two years later in November 2024. Billy is now 24 years old. Kitty-Blu is 21.
Chris previously spoke about the moment he came out to Billy and Kitty-Blu 17 years ago. He was 26 at the time and was really struggling mentally.
Chris told the On Purpose podcast that it was one of the “darkest” times in his life. He even attempted to take his own life.
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In the candid interview, Chris said: “It felt like it would be better for them to have a dad that was dead than a dad that was gay. It’s not something I’ve ever spoken about.”
Looking back, he explained: “All of a sudden, I just felt like I’d just messed their life up, and I felt like I’d failed as a dad because my job was to protect them and if anyone ever hurt them, I would protect them.
“But I was the one [who] hurt them, and I couldn’t understand that.”
Thankfully, Chris survived his suicide attempt. He describes it as a “turning point” in his life. His relationship with his two children is stronger than ever.
“Something changed then,” Chris said. “It was really powerful because I realised I couldn’t hate myself any more than I had, and I couldn’t try and stop being gay anymore. I decided to live.”
