Strictly Come Dancing’s Giovanni Pernice has confirmed his romance with his dance partner, Bianca Guaccero.
Pernice, 34, left Strictly last year and joined the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle, where he was paired up with actress and singer Guaccero, 43.
After weeks of rumours, the pair confirmed they are dating in an introduction clip to their dance routine on Saturday night.
“Bianca is my priority. She has been my priority from the beginning. She is still my priority today and will be until the end of the show and beyond,” Pernice said, while sitting next to Guaccero.
The actress looked moved by the sentiment and replied: “Being someone's priority is something new for me. I have always been the one taking care of others.
“It's an amazing feeling. It's something I'm discovering at the age of 43.”
She appeared emotional as she went on: “Having someone next to me who is proud of me and is happy for my happiness is something new to me. This had never happened to me in my life.”
Pernice wrapped an arm around her and kissed her on the cheek during the touching moment.
Guaccero also shared a heartfelt message to Pernice with Italian TV presenter Monica Setta for Storie di Donne al Bivio (Stories of Women at the Crossroads), which will air on December 21,
“Dear Giovanni, I promise you to leave out all my fears, doubts and closures. The symbolic gift I put under the Christmas tree is to believe in our possibilities,” she said.
In the last few weeks, she has visited Pernice in London and the dancer has met her family in Bitonto, Southern Italy.
“I had a heavy stone on my heart, I had difficulty believing in true love. When I met Giovanni I felt at home and I was in London with him and then 24 hours with my parents,” Guaccero said.
“I wanted to introduce him to the country and the people I love.”
Pernice left Strictly after his dance partner, Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, accused him being "unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean" during their rehearsals - something he strongly denied.
After a BBC investigation, complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld, while claims of physical aggression were not.
