AJ Odudu is reportedly finding it difficult seeing her Strictly partner Kai Widdrington with someone else on tour.
The pair's steamy chemistry on Strictly Come Dancing led to speculation that they were more than friends during the series.
But after AJ, 33, was forced to pull out of the final due to injury and unable to go on the Strictly Come Dancing tour her professional dance partner has been paired up with former EastEnders star Maisie Smith - who competed on the 2020 series of the show.
Kai, 26, will be going around the UK performing with Maisie and a host of other names from the 2021 line-up of Strictly - leaving AJ missing out, which reportedly has been tough for the TV presenter to stomach.
"AJ has found it hard," a source told new! magazine.
"She and Kai grew so close on the show and had such an incredible bond that it is hard to see him have that with someone else when it should be her."
AJ said in a statement that she was gutted at not being able to take part in the tour after her foot injury.
She said: "I’m devastated not to be able to take part in the Strictly tour due to injury.
"I had hoped for one last dance with Kai, but I must obviously follow the medical advice. I wish my Strictly family the very best of luck on the road and I’ll definitely be there to cheer them on."
Meanwhile, her replacement Masie, 20, was delighted to be getting another chance on the dance floor.
She said: "I’m thrilled to be asked to restart my Strictly journey on this year’s arena tour. Kai and I will be dancing the quickstep and the samba – I can’t wait for rehearsals to start next week.
"It will be a joy to dance with everyone and so great to see my EastEnders friend Rose again. I wish AJ a speedy recovery."
This week, reports have claimed that Kai is romantically involved with fellow professional Nadiya Bychkova - and not AJ.
Reports claim that she and Kai checked in together at a Leeds hotel ahead of their latest stop on the Strictly tour.
The duo waited 15 minutes after their fellow co-stars arrived at the hotel, with Kai seen standing outside with his luggage awaiting Nadiya’s arrival, according to The Sun.
A source told the outlet that the couple were “low-key” dating, but now they’re “very much together”.
“Kai was outside the hotel for about 15 minutes and waited until everyone else in the touring party had checked in - but Nadiya came along a short while later.
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“She handed him her bags, and together they went and checked into a room. It’s clear they’re a proper item,” the source added.
Kai and Nadiya's rumoured romance comes after her split from Matija Skarabot, who is father to her five-year-old daughter.
The Slovenian footballer and the professional dancer were engaged but it is said that pressures of a long-distance relationship led to them they reportedly called time on their relationship.
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