\'Strictly Come Dancing\' professional Giovanni Pernice has confirmed he is dating Ashley Roberts.
The ballroom dancer and the former Pussycat Dolls singer were rumoured to have got together during the last series of the BBC talent show and after staying tight-lipped on the romance, Giovanni finally let slip the pair are an item during an appearance on \'Lorraine\' on Monday morning (14.01.19).
Appearing along with fellow pros Gorka Marquez and Aljaz Skorjanec, host Lorraine Kelly said: "I know it\'s early days for you and Ashley but I hope it goes well for you."
Prompting Giovanni to reply: "Thank you."
Giovanni then confirmed that he and Ashley - who was partnered with Pasha Kovalev on \'Strictly\' - had spent Christmas and New Year together on vacation in Florida with Aljaz and his wife Janette Manrara.
Speaking about the trip, Aljaz interjected to say: "It was beautiful, I mean it\'s always beautiful to be in Florida for Christmas and New Year but it\'s bit weird because Santa usually comes on a sleigh rather than a surfboard."
And Giovanni also spilled that he will be dancing with his 2018 partner Faye Toser and girlfriend Ashley on the \'Strictly Come Dancing\' tour.
He said: "It\'s different things, I\'m dancing with Faye and with Ashley - it\'s different."
And Giovanni also defended Ashley from the criticism she received during her time on \'Strictly\' with viewers complaining that her prior dance experience as a pop star helped her make the final.
The 28-year-old Italian dancer - who also made the final four couples with Steps singer Faye - said: "That\'s the thing, every year, the same with my partner Faye. Every year people talk about the experience but not about the commitment to the show. They [the celebs] have never danced ballroom and Latin but they put 100 per cent in the show, and that\'s the most important thing."
The 2018 series produced two couples with Giovanni falling for Ashley, 37, behind the scenes and YouTuber Joe Sugg getting together with his professional partner Dianne Buswell.
And Gorka dismissed the notion of the \'Strictly Curse\', insisting the fact that people find love is a blessing as long as they\'re not hurting anyone else.
Speaking about his own happy relationship with Gemma Atkinson - whom he met on the 2017 series - he said: "We are very happy thanks to the show. Thanks for the tour I got the chance to spend more time with her and get to know her better. Yeah, we are very happy!"
