Strictly Come Dancing stars Jowita Pryzstal and Giovanni Pernice are reportedly in a relationship after being spotted kissing backstage.
New Strictly pro Jowita took home the Glitterball trophy with Ardnamurchan local Hamza Yassin last weekend, while Giovanni made an early exit in the series alongside partner Richie Anderson. The Italian dancer, 32, won the 2021 BBC ballroom competition with fan-favourite EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Romance rumours between the two dancers sparked after fans noticed incredible chemistry between them during a pros dance in October, but they have now been spotted looking cosy at a party. Jowita and Giovanni were thought to be keeping their romance under wraps before flirting at a birthday party for Chelsea footballer Jorghino, according to a source.
Jowita, 28, joined Strictly in Season 19 but only participated in group dances before being paired with her first celebrity partner Hamza, 32, this year. The Polish dancer topped the leaderboard and took home the Glitterball trophy alongside her BBC wildlife cameraman partner.
Speaking of the couple's rumoured romance, a source told the Sun: “She and Gio are the worst kept secret, but make a great couple. While they both kept insisting they were single, the pair’s chemistry was ridiculous — and they kept getting busted snogging in corridors."
“Crew even saw them kissing in the production office. They make a great couple though, and have been pretty inseparable in the last few weeks."
The source added: "Jowita, especially, wanted to keep things quiet so she could keep focused with Hamza, and not distract from the competition. Giovanni invited Jowita as his date to Jorghino’s birthday bash at Grappelli, an Italian restaurant in Cobham, Surrey, near the Chelsea training ground.
“They were flirting and made their relationship very known. It was the talk of the evening.”
Jowita split with her dancer boyfriend Michael Danilczuk before the series began, but this isn't Giovanni's first time being linked to a Strictly star. The ladies man dated his Strictly partner and ex-Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote in 2015 before splitting eight months later.
In 2018 he dated another show contestant, Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts, despite not being partnered together. His most recent romance was with Love Island alumni Maura Higgins, but the pair split four months after going public due to the gruelling Strictly rehearsal schedule.
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