Former Love Island star Matthew MacNabb has admitted it was “too awkward” trying to find love on the dating show – saying it was a “more natural” falling for Laura Nolan on Dancing With The Stars.
The Co Down reality TV star confirmed he was dating his gorgeous pro dance partner on Sunday night after he smooched her at the end of the dance off, which saw them voted out of the semi-finals.
Speaking after the show, Matthew admitted finding love on the RTE One dance show was much more natural than when he was on Love Island.
He said: “To be honest I think that was the more natural path as well. I always say it is kind of awkward with Love Island. Yeah, I was open to it in Love Island but it’s just a weird environment to be put into in a sense that you’re coupled together and you’re doing challenges with each other. It’s just kind of an odd balance. Whereas this is just we’re hanging out and working towards something and just enjoying life. It’s much more natural.”
Laura added: “Yeah each week we were focussing on the next dance and the next dance and keep pushing for it. Then in the meantime we really enjoyed each other’s company and got on really well so it was very natural.”
Speaking after the show ended on Sunday night, Matthew and Laura confirmed they have been dating for the last two months – and the couple have already met each other’s families.
Matthew said: “Me and Laura are dating. That’s my secret girlfriend. We've been dating for the past month or two. It’s been really good.”
The pair now plan to travel to California together, where Matthew previously lived, while the Northern Irishman will also take the blonde beauty to his sister’s wedding in Florida.
Matthew said: “Well my immediate plan is to let my knees recover, first of all. We’re going travelling to California, where I lived for two years, and then for my sister’s wedding in Florida and then I’m working on my fitness app. I’m working on travel content and whatnot.”
Laura added: “So I’m going away obviously with Matt and then I’ll be coming back here to Dublin to continue teaching and also, I have a few different shows in the pipeline…”
The pair have already met family and friends with Matthew saying: “We all get along very well. Both our families are very similar, hardworking, down to earth people. They’re good craic like. We’ll be going to the pub after this with all of them. Apart from my mum. She’s up in Downpatrick sweating, she’ll just be in a terrible mood now. She’ll be cursing everybody.”
Laura added she never thought she would be part of the Strictly curse but said the pair “naturally” got on very well.
“I never over-thought anything. It just naturally happened. Even though yes, we have been dating, he still went into the studio and worked really hard, so it didn’t hinder anything. In fact, it probably helped it,” she added.
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