BBC Strictly's Maisie Smith and Max George in first…

BBC Strictly's Maisie Smith and Max George in first couple photoshoot after she was left 'buzzing' by discovery

Maisie Smith and Max George have appeared in their first joint photoshoot since going official with their relationship just a couple of months ago. The couple, who met when they both appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, revealed that romantic sparks only began to fly earlier this year in a new interview.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, Maisie, 21, and Max, 34, have opened up about how their connection developed and their plans for the future together for the first time. They revealed that it was not until the BBC One dance competition's live arena tour in January this year that a close friendship started to form between them.

"When I’d speak to my mum, I’d always bring Max up, he was one of my closest friends, but there was never anything more", the former EastEnders star said. But they then went on to appear on a second Strictly tour, which kicked off in June, and the pair finally felt romantic sparks when a group of cast and crew went on a post-tour holiday to Portugal's Algarve.

Max, who is famed for appearing in The Wanted recalled: "Towards the end of the holiday, I could feel I was looking at her differently. "I thought 'What’s happening here?' I was pretty nervous to see if it was reciprocated." The couple went on to share their first kiss and now appear smitten with one another.

"When I get off a train, Max will be standing on the platform with a bouquet of flowers and I feel like I’m in a movie," Maisie, who spent more than 10 years playing Tiffany Butcher in EastEnders told the publication. "It's every girl’s dream and I’ve found it in Max," she added before agreed that becoming her boyfriend is the "best thing I’ve ever done".

Maisie and Max have been opening up about their relationship (Maisie Smith Instagram)

The lovebirds also addressed their 13-year age gap which has raised some eyebrows - and it does not bother them. Maisie said she has never noticed the difference as she feels they are “so like-minded” while Max agreed that it never enters his mind, adding: "Mais has already done so many things that I’m in awe of – I look up to her.”

The pair are currently living together but are often travelling the country with Maisie currently touring with the Craig Revel-Horwood-directed revival of Strictly Ballroom: The Musical, where she stars as leading lady Fran. But they did reveal plans to get a place together and have a base in London and potentially one in Manchester as well.

Maisie and Max took part in their first interview and and photoshoot since going public with their romance (PA)

Maisie added: "With my job I’ve had for the last 20-ish years, I haven’t travelled very much, so it will be lovely to get to travel the world with my bestie."

Their first chat as a couple comes after Maisie said she was 'buzzing' to discover something new about her man. Max, who has topped the charts as one fifith of The Wanted before the tragic death of bandmate Tom Parker earlier this year, took to Instagram with a selfie as well an image of himself alongside Strictly pro dancer Kai Widdrington after filming a very different kind of TV show.

"Just done The Weakest Link. Cheers @prevustudio for the fit…" he captioned the snap which quickly caught the attention of Maisie who was quick to add a comment. She wrote: " Wait you’re smart too..? Buzzing x."

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