No more drama! Maksim Chmerkovskiy vows to keep his fiery temper in check for return to Dancing With The Stars
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He's known for his verbal clashes with head judge Len Goodman, but professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy is putting his argumentative ways behind him for the 18th series of the show.
The Ukrainian firebrand claims he's got a new perspective after taking a break from the reality show last year and won't be causing trouble now he is returning.
He told PEOPLE: 'Listen, I'm a sweet guy. I'm just intense at work. I have nothing but the end result in mind. My entire career has been like that.
New partner: Maksim Chmerkovskiy says being teamed with Meryl Davis for this series of Dancing With The Stars has helped him calm down
'I have come to realise very late in my DWTS career that that doesn't exactly translate in television format. People are tuning in to see the progress and what happens during the rehearsals and don't want to see drama.'
The 34-year-old ballroom champion credits his new outlook to his partner for the series, Olympic ice dancing gold medal winner Meryl Davis.
'I'm having a blast with her,' he added 'I noticed that I'm not nervous and I'm not stressing out, like I usually would be. I've got somebody who is at the top of their game – not a retired athlete with aches and pains and certain physical issues.
'She is in great shape. She's in great spirits. I got somebody who doesn't need to prove herself to anyone.'
Ready to return: Maksim Chmerkovskiy has vowed to keep his temper in check during this year's Dancing With The Stars
Since leaving the show in 2012, the lothario starred in Forever Tango on Broadway and appeared in three episodes of TV series General Hospital and filmed a movie, Lost Luck.
While they are happy he's back on the dancefloor, the professional – who split with model Kate Upton in December and was previously linked to his former co-star Karina Smirnoff – says his family are still hoping he’ll settle down.
He said: 'My grandma and my mom are not happy about the fact that I am still a bachelor. It's not on my mind that I have to find the person I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. It will happen the way it's going to happen.'
Still single: The ballroom bachelor's mother and grandmother are both keen for him to settle down
Meanwhile, Star Wars actor Billy Dee Williams - who is competing in this series of the show - was spotted turning up for rehearsals with dance partner Emma Slater yesterday, as he prepares for the beginning of the series tomorrow.
Ready for rehearsal: Billy Dee Williams arrives for dance practice in Los Angeles ahead of the show's premiere tomorrow
Calm and confident: The Star Wars actor appeared to be in a good mood as he took his gym clothes out of his car.
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Trouble, NYC and London, 4 hours ago
Maks only said what we all thought. The show seems rigged so that the same pros win time after time.