Backstage on Strictly Come Dancing tour with a bored Ben Cohen

Rugby superstar,  LGBT ally and founder of the StandUp Foundation Ben Cohen posted this picture on his Facebook page with the caption:

"Being bored back stage on Strictly Come Dancing tour and trying on wigs. Lol. B"

Ben Cohen leaves "Strictly Come Dancing" with a champion's heart

I'm not happy to report that rugby champ and anti-bullying superstar Ben Cohen got bumped from BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing" last night after a 9 week run.

As he received the news on the live broadcast, Ben had this to say: "When would I get to dress like this every day, wear all the lycra and maybe not a top!  Now I can dance at my kid's parties. Kristina has been great, I've thrown her into walls, dropped her a few times and she has been great - thanks ever so much for putting up with me!"

Like a great champion, Ben took the loss with further grace posting this on his Facebook page:

Thank you all so much for the support during my time on Strictly Come Dancing. I had a blast and met some great people. A big Thank You to Kristina Rihanoff for teaching me to dance. You have a patient of a Saint and made my Journey fun and exciting. Thanks Ben

With typical good nature, Ben's hard work showed throughout the competition, but always accompanied with a smile and light-hearted fun.

Whether on the dance floor, the rugby field or fighting bullying, Ben continues to inspire.

And speaking of inspiration, let's take one more look at one of the highlights of Ben's run on "Strictly Come Dancing" - his shirtless and passionate Paso Doble.

Ben Cohen & Kristine Rihanoff - Week 9 of Strictly Come Dancing - The Charleston

Ben Cohen gives some period style to the Charleston on "Strictly Come Dancing"

Tonight rugby superstar and LGBT anti-bullying champ took to the Strictly Come Dancing floor with partner Kristina Rihanoff to give their best on the Charleston, dancing to "No Diggity."

Metro reports on how it all went down:

While Mark Benton remains the favourite to leave the competition this weekend after two consecutive weeks in the dance-off, the rugby ace failed to impress the judges as he tackled the Charleston with Kristina Rihanoff.

And despite his best efforts he scored just 27 points from the judges, putting him one point behind Benton and potentially placing him in the danger zone.

‘It wasn’t the most electrifying Charleston I’ve ever seen,’ complained Craig Revel Horwood.

‘There was no cross what so ever and you lacked any freedom of movement… this is what it’s about quirkiness.’

Meanwhile Len Goodman added: ‘The lifts were great but it lacked any kind of freedom in the movement.’

Ben Cohen and partner Kristina Rihanoff cut loose doing the Charleston on "Strictly Come Dancing"

Ben Cohen shows  - if you've got it, USE it!

Ben Cohen has shown very strong partnering skills throughout the competition

Kristin Rihanoff celebrates at the end of the number

Ben Cohen gets ready to rehearse the Charleston

From Ben Cohen Facebook page today: "Getting ready to do the Charleston Dance at the weekend. Got to get the facial expression right!!!! Cheeeessssyyyy!! But I love it."

Ben Cohen competes in Week 8 of Strictly Come Dancing

Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff in a spectacular lift while dancing the American Smooth

Ben Cohen (rugby superstar and founder of the anti-bullying StandUp Foundation) and Kristina Rihanoff dance the American Smooth to Alicia Keyes' 'Fallin.'

Watch the performance on YouTube here.

The dance garnered 32 points, which matched the teams highest score to date, and was 6 points higher than last week's Jive.

Ben gets better and better each week, and Kristina's choreography wisely takes advantage of Ben's athleticism and strong partnering skills.

Go Team Cohen/Rihanoff!

Ben Cohen dances the Jive on "Strictly Come Dancing"

Rugby superstar and anti-bullying advocate Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff dance the Jive to 'Jump, Jive an' Wail' on Strictly Come Dancing.

Go Team Cohen!

Head over to StandUpFoundation.com to find out more about Ben's efforts to stop bullying.

Ben Cohen delivers a sexy, shirtless Paso Doble on Strictly Come Dancing

A shirtless Ben Cohen stops the Strictly Come Dancing show with a sexy shirtless Paso Doble

Rugby star and LGBT ally Ben Cohen performed a shirtless Paso Doble on this week's Strictly Come Dancing.

Ben's athleticism really comes out here.  Watching him through the competition, he's showing really strong partnering skills.  Besides his obvious strength, his eye contact with Kristina is constant and you see that they are in sync as a dance couple.

Kristina's choreography continues to impress.  She finds ways to show Ben off to his strengths without diminishing her own.

And then, well, there's just the fact that he's BEN COHEN.   Shirtless!  Whoo-hoo!

Ben even does a little post-dance partnering with judge Bruno Tonioli:

Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff

A shirtless Ben Cohen chats on his Paso Doble after dancing

Ben Cohen on Week 4 of "Strictly Come Dancing"

Ben Cohen goes shirtless for Week 4 of Strictly Come Dancing

Former Saints strongman Ben Cohen put in another good performance on Strictly Come Dancing, impressing the judges with his bulging biceps as well as his twinkling toes.

The ex-Franklin’s Gardens star, born and bred in Northampton, scored a total of 31 points.

He received scores of eight from three of the judges and a score of seven from Bruno Tonioli, to put him halfway up the leader board.

Ben, who danced the salsa, ripped off his shirt during the dance, before being praised by the judges for his moves.

After watching the performance, which featured a number of high-risk throws, Len Goodman told him: “You’ve got the guns and tonight you’ve got the ammunition.”

(via NorthHampton Chronicle)

Week 3: Ben Cohen on "Strictly Come Dancing"

"The time has come to do the Rumba with the great @KRihanoff on @bbcstrictly #gottobesexy #bumtuckedin," Ben Cohen wrote on Facebook before his third appearance on the hit TV show "Strictly Come Dancing."

From NorthHamptonNews: Ben Cohen produced a raunchy rhumba on Strictly Come Dancing for Love Week.

He won unanimous praise for his dance in a dress shirt and undone bow tie to Adele’s Make You Feel My Love and his performance with Kristina Rihanoff earned a standing ovation.

The pair scored straight sevens from the four judges, giving him 28 points an improvement of three on last week’s 25 for the waltz.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood said: “I want to love you too my darling. I’m willing you to do well and dance well, and you know what, you did.”

(h/t JMG)

Ben Cohen - Week 2 on "Stricly Come Dancing"

Because we all can use a little Monday Ben Cohen

From Ben Cohen's debut dance on this weekend's Strictly Come Dancing.

You can see the whole dance here.

Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff Cha-Cha in Week One of "Strictly Come Dancing"

Rugby superstar and LGBT ally Ben Cohen in his first week debut on "Strictly Come Dancing." First week - we can barely understand the pressure of all this in front of a world-wide audience. Great job.

By the way - I may be gay, but Kristina Rihanoff is HOT. Great dancer, and tremendous performer.  And Ben looks amazing in that sleeveless red shirt.  Great partnering skills on display, too.

Can't wait for the upcoming weeks of Ben and Kristina. Good job, guys.

Ben Cohen - rehearsal pic with Strictly Come Dancing partner Kristina Rihanoff

Ben Cohen posted this pic to his Instagram account with his Strictly Come Dancing partner Kristina Rihanoff.  Nice line with the left leg there, Ben.  Good luck this week!

Happy Friday!

Ben Cohen asked for male dance partner for Strictly Come Dancing, looks to break down stereotypes

Rugby superstar and LGBT ally Ben Cohen has told the British press that he had been hoping to be paired with a male partner on Strictly Come Dancing:

The ex-England rugby star had hoped to be paired with pro Robin Windsor, but instead got stunning blonde Kristina Rihanoff.

Married dad-of-two Ben, 34, who has posed naked for magazines, said: “I’ve no qualms dancing with a woman or a man. Kristina will be easier to pick up though.”

Proud of being a gay ­pin-up, he added: “I like to break down stereotypes.”

Robin, 33, said at last week’s National Lottery Stars awards: “He kept saying to me, ‘I hope they put me with you’, but it wasn’t to be. “He’s amazing, the things he has done for the gay ­community. I adore him.”

(via Towleroad)

Ben Cohen - End of Day One rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing

Ben Cohen, rugby superstar and LGBT super-ally, shared this pic on his Facebook today saying "End of our first day of rehearsal!!! Kristina Rihanoff was very Patient... B"

I love that he's wearing his Nike "BE TRUE" shirt to rehearsal.

Go Team Ben!

Ben Cohen's first dance on "Strictly Come Dancing"

Ben Cohen took to the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor with his fellow competitors for the first time this past Saturday night. 

The rugby superstar and LGBT ally is looking good!

Whoo-hoo! Go Team Cohen!

Ben Cohen poses in black lycra for his first photo for Strictly Come Dancing

Rugby superstar and LGBT ally Ben Cohen tweeted the first picture of him in his Strictly Come Dancing clothes with the comment "Here you go. Me in my Lycra's and a bit of Sequins!! Hehe."