Strictly's Amy Dowden sees Karim Zeroual as her 'little brother'

Amy Dowden sees her \'Strictly Come Dancing\' partner Karim Zeroual as her "little brother".

The 28-year-old ballroom dancer has made a "friend for life" with the TV presenter after she invited him to her wedding to fiancé Ben Jones next summer.

Speaking to HELLO! magazine, Amy said: "I\'ve made a friend for life. I see Karim as my little brother and I so want him to be there."

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And Karim couldn\'t agree more as he admits Amy knows the CBBC host more than he knows himself.

He adds: "We can be honest with each other if we like the choreography or we don\'t.

"It\'s a friendship where we both want the exact same thing at the end of it. She knows more about me than I know about myself!"

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But the pair, who are both in long-term relationships, have no intentions of falling victim to the so-called \'Strictly\' curse.

Karim - who has been dating student Poppy Birtwistle for three years - admitted: "Oh no - there\'s nothing going on between me and Amy. I have a girlfriend. But Amy and I are really good mates - a bit too good. We tease each other constantly, and it goes a bit far, and she nags me a bit - but look, it is all out of love.

"I don\'t really know about any rumours. I\'m too busy learning to do this waltz than to worry about stuff like that."

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Karim has also hit back at claims he has dancing experience, as he impresses week on week with his performances.

He said: "I was a singer in musical theatre, \'The Lion King\', when I was about eight! There\'s no movement in it!"