Former Strictly Come Dancing stars Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova were among the earliest line up of pro dancers and enjoyed significant success on the popular show.
Darren won the Glitterball trophy shortly after joining the programme with his celebrity partner, actress Jill Halfpenny.
The following year, his wife Lilia clinched victory alongside cricketing legend Darren Gough. Her husband, a Latin dance champion, proudly celebrated her win, having experienced the same triumph himself.
Darren’s subsequent achievements included reaching the semi-final with Baby Spice Emma Bunton and the quarter-final with EastEnders star Letitia Dean. He also secured victory in the Christmas special with Jill Halfpenny – twice.
Lilia, on the other hand, claimed the Christmas Champion of Champions trophy, again with Darren Gough, which featured a dance that earned a perfect score of 40 out of 40. In her debut season on Strictly, she reached the semi-final with Welsh singer and presenter Aled Jones, reports Wales Online.
Her later successes included finishing as runner-up with rugby player Matt Dawson to cricket legend Mark Ramprakash and his professional dancer Karen Hardy.
Darren and Lilia, renowned for their exceptional dance skills and affable nature, became firm favourites among viewers. However, fans were disheartened when the duo announced their departure from Strictly after the 2009 series.
For the last 15 years, they have primarily been living a quiet life, raising their two young daughters. The couple first met in 1997 when Sheffield-born Darren was introduced to Russian dancer Lilia.
Just five months later, they clinched the International and British amateur Youth Championships. They turned professional in 2003 and are now considered one of Britain’s top Latin American dance couples.
In November 2005, Darren and Lilia, who tied the knot in 1999, bagged the British Championships for Professional Latin, securing first place in all five dances. They have since amassed a plethora of other awards.
Since hanging up their professional dancing shoes, the pair have delved into the creative aspects of dance. They are part of the team behind Essentially Dance, an initiative that encourages British children to learn ballroom and Latin American dance as a means to combat childhood obesity and foster social skills.
The couple also starred in a West End dance show, Latin Fever, which they choreographed themselves, selecting the music and costumes to mirror the mood of each Latin dance.
More recently, Lilia has taken on the role of choreographer for the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars, with Darren serving as the consultant creative producer.
The duo resides in Sheffield with their two daughters, nine-year-old Valentina and four-year-old Lucia. They’ve candidly shared that their journey to parenthood presented challenges.
Prior to the lockdown, they excitedly announced on Instagram their anticipation of a second “miracle” baby. Lucia made her arrival in September 2020.
Lilia delights followers by regularly offering glimpses into their family life and career developments through photos and updates on her Instagram account.
Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer