Kara Tointon first came to television screens as Eastenders' Dawn Swann.

After four years as the troubled barmaid, she then turned her attention to dancing, eventually being crowned Strictly's winner in 2010.

Former EastEnders actress Kara Tointon has revealed that she and dancer Artem Chigvintsev are still together - and still very much a couple.

The pair, who sparked off a romance after they performed together in Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 - going on to win the series - now spend their time between London and Los Angeles, with Kara describing their relationship as 'fantastic'.

When Kara Tointon signed up to Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, she never thought she'd not only walk away as the winner but also find love.

Two years on, she and professional dance partner Artem Chigvintsev, 30, are still together but their relationship has completely changed. Artem no longer bends her backwards over his knee.

STRICTLY Come Dancing winner Kara Tointon is in no rush to wed boyfriend and former dance partner Artem Chigvintsev.

Ex-EastEnder Kara, who won the 2010 series of the BBC1 reality hit, said: “All relationships are different and you have to see what happens. It’s nice to meet someone and wait. What’s the rush? If you are together, you are together.”

Strictly Come Dancing couple Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev have bought a pair of kittens to “test the water” for a family. Asked about having children, Artem, 30, said: “We are taking one step at a time and we have got babies already in the form of two kittens.

“They are pixie-bob cats so are massive and charge around the house like horses at 5am, which isn’t pleasant. “We are testing the water, so it is one step closer to the next step. If we survive then we can go to the next level.”

Former Strictly Come Dancing winners Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev are to revive their twinkle-toed partnership by performing at a Jubilee celebration.

The duo – who became a couple after being paired on the show in 2010 – will perform in a Strictly segment of the Jubilee Family Festival in London’s Hyde Park on June 2 and 3. They join Chelsee Healey, who came second last year, and pro dancer Robin Windsor in a section of the bash to be hosted by judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Kara Tointon has us all of a flapper in a beautiful twenties-inspired frock at the Olivier Awards. The former EastEnders actress, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, rocked the Alice + Olivia Minka sequinned dress along with a pair of nude peep-toe heels.

Kara, 28, was at the showbiz ceremony to co-present the gong for Best New Dance Production to Akram Khan for his show Desh.

Four of Strictly’s biggest stars – including 2010 champion Kara Tointon with her professional dance partner Artem Chigvintsev – are returning to Scotland this June.

They’re arriving for Strictly Presents…Dance To The Music, an unleashed performance to demonstrate what they can do when there are no judges and no rules.

Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev shared a magical evening supporting their Strictly Come Dancing pal Russell Grant in The Wizard Of Oz.

The engaged couple, who met when they won Strictly in 2010, were snapped leaving the London Palladium after a media night for the production.

Former EastEnders star Kara Tointon was joined by TV presenters Tess Daly, Alex Jones and Claudia Winkleman at the unveiling of these snazzy socks for Sport Relief.

Organisers are hoping participants will buy the special footwear to take part in the hundreds of Sainsbury's Sport Relief Mile events across the country from March 23 to 25.

Kara Tointon had no need to worry about Absent Friends when she took to the stage for her West End debut as her sister watched on.

The former Strictly Come Dancing champion, who plays moody 1970's housewife Evelyn in the play, made sure she had plenty of familiar faces in the audience, including sibling Hannah.

Len Goodman thinks Kara Tointon would be "great" on the 'Strictly Come Dancing' judging panel. The 67-year-old star - who is joined on the BBC One show by Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli - thinks the former 'Strictly' winner could bring a "different dynamic" to the series if she takes over from Alesha Dixon after she defected to rival ITV1 show 'Britain's Got Talent'.

He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I think she would be great. We've all got our roles to play and myself, Bruno and Craig have all got strong personalities and different fields of expertise. To get somebody who is an ex-competitor does bring a different dynamic to the thing.

The EastEnders and Strictly star takes on her toughest role yet – as an Ayckbourn villain in Absent Friends.

Kara Tointon says most actors want people to like them. Sometimes, with this in mind, they talk themselves into believing that the unpleasant roles in which they have been cast are sympathetic.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli wants to see Alesha Dixon replaced by another “feisty” former champion. Bruno has backed 2010 winner Kara Tointon as the perfect choice to fill the empty judge’s seat.

And he revealed 2004 champ Jill Halfpenny is also in the running to take over from Alesha, who has quit the BBC1 show to join Simon Cowell on ITV1’s Britain’s Got Talent.

Strictly Come Dancing star Kara Tointon today backed the Evening Standard's literacy campaign saying children are not getting enough help with reading.

The 28-year-old actress was diagnosed with dyslexia at seven and battled to overcome the condition and learn to read confidently.

Strictly Come Dancing champ Kara Tointon could soon find herself on the other side of the panel. Following Alesha's decision to quit the show in favour of a seat on the Britain's Got Talent judging panel, Kara has been tipped as her replacement.

Ladbrokes are offering even odds on the ex-EastEnders star becoming the new judge, after she earned an army of fans when she won the show in 2010.

With tears, tantrums and tight frocks, theirs was a rivalry destined to enter the annals of cat-fight history.

But Strictly Come Dancing’s latest bitchfest has been nipped in the bud, following a peace-making meeting between Kara Tointon and Holly Valance. And it was instigated by last year’s Strictly winner Kara – the woman accused of being a “bunny boiler”.

For a while it seemed like there might be a Strictly Come Dancing war brewing up, as rumours of a rift between Holly Valance and Kara Tointon circulated.

According to the rumours, Kara was feeling a little put out by the sexy routines her boyfriend Artem Chingvintsev and his celebrity partner Holly were dancing on Strictly.But the girls have proved there’s no bad blood at all between them, after Holly posted a picture of her having a drink and a good old gossip with Kara.

Ex-Strictly winner Kara Tointon could be doing the splits — after boyfriend Artem Chigvintsev fled their love nest. Fed-up Artem stormed out after a series of rows to stay with fellow Strictly pro Robin Windsor.

Pals revealed the couple are close to breaking point. One said: "They've been having a terrible time together and decided they needed some space.