Every year some couples declare undying affection and state they'll always be friends or whatever - but do they (and not romantically).

Previously some people have got on exceptionally well - they have a laugh, the husbands/wives/significant others all mix well, and because it's an emotional journey they say they'll be mates for life.

Does this ever really happen? Has any celeb from the past stayed friendly with their dancer? I don't mean as lovers, although clearly some have gone on to do that, I mean as buddies.

Mark and Karen did - she took her son to see him play cricket.

I think that Julian Clary and Erin stayed friends (not sure about Colin and Erin though!)

Once their (James/Pamela) professional relationship is over, I reckon James will head for the hills!

I think Kate and Anton did. Ian did with Zoe (and I think Jodie). Jo Woods was at Brendan's wedding.

I'm sure there are more but I can't remember.

I think Cola stayed in touch

Austin and Erin tweeting each other today (as they often do!)

I think Ian Waite is still in touch will all of his partners

Does he count Michelle?

Yes, they did, and Chris often plays golf with James according to his twitter! The Jordans and the Logans are still good friends too

Mark Foster, although not her Strictly partner, was at Camilla's wedding I believe. And Matt Dawson and Lilia tweet each other sometimes.

As was Peter Schmeicel - random Maybe they kept in touch because of the Danish connection. Mark & Camilla have done quite a few events together.

Flavia and Matt Di Angelo also stayed in touch afterwards

I always wonder this too. Last week with Scott and Natalie made me realise that actually, some of the pairings may never speak to each other again after the final. I always seemed to have it in my head that the majority would remain friends for life or something like that.

Me too, hence the OP. I imagine it's easy to fall in love with your partner romantically - and several have although to my knowledge no-one has lasted very long (poss. exception Matt and Flavia, and they've just split up).

But finding a real connection as friends strikes me as quite rare, even if they do make an effort during filming so as not to spoil a combination put together in cold blood by the Beeb. Nurturing a platonic friendship with the opposite sex in a hothouse environment like SCD and keeping on the right side with both other halves is a difficult juggling act.

I'm sure some couples have walked away and never looked back, and not just the odd-couple ones.

good question
Apart from the romantic pairings; there must be more incentive in some cases than others. If you were Brendan wouldn't you kit with Jo Wood ££ or Michelle $$, and for James & Ola the Pamela and therefore Billy connection must be the lottery.

I doubt whether Lillia kept in touch with Dom Littlewood, or whoever danced with David Dickenson. Pamela spoke of this in the Guardian today and siad no one speaks about the etiquette.

And in some cases the partner must feel threatened by the relationship even if it strictly platonic
I reckon some of the gay pairings must be easier. Julian Clary, Matt, Ian.

Austin and his family also went to Erin's wedding. Think it was in Italy.

Mark Foster doesn't seem to be in touch with his own pro, so far as it's possible to tell, but he went on holiday with Ian and Matthew, with Christine Bleakley, after the show; he follows Ian on his Twitter account and seems to know Ian's partner Camilla and her husband quite well (he and Kevin Sacre participated in the wheelchair dance series Brian did on BBC 4). And he came to Strictly this year to see the show Matthew was dancing in.

Noone's mentioned Ali Bastiaan and Brian Fortuna - they did "Burn the floor" together for months, and remained very friendly after finally splitting up (Brian busy).

Don't know about SCD but by twitter there are strong links between some people on DOI and between those on the ALW shows and between the X factor contestants . They also meet other people on the tours and forge links across different years and then get to know each other friends from other shows. Its producing a large group of people who know each other from doing some reality show and they cross years and shows and stay in contact. SCD has older contestants but I imagine there's similar continuing links?

What made you think that about Scott and Nat?

I think some of them remain firm friends but, as in any friendship with busy people, they probably don't get together that often. Julian Clary said he had made a friend for life in Erin and I am sure that is true, he dedicated his book to her.

I doubt Anton and Laila have stayed friends, cough. He was very matey with Lesley Garrett though, she brought him and dancing into her show. I expect he will stay friends with Ann.

Quite. Also as I'm sure we've all experienced, when the event that brought you together ends it's often tricky finding common ground in the long term. Especially in Strictly's case where all the partnerships are between people of the opposite sex.

Of course, with social networking many more can now visibly remain "friends", but that isn't real friendship, is it? Earlier this year I deleted my facebook account in protest when some idiot I'd fallen out with in secondary school sent me a friend request. I hadn't seen her in 20 years and had no desire to, yet she was just a click away from becoming my "friend"...

Lesley Garrett was at a performance of his and Erin's show this year too. I met her in the loos!

Colin was at Erin's wedding, so it looks as though they have.

Ian always gets on fantastically with his partners in the show, it seems. Him and Jodie were an amazing double act.

Anton is still friends with Jan Ravens, and was phoning her regularly to rant about Widdy this year!!!!