Strictly Come Dancing's Ellie Leach has addressed for the first time reports that she and Vito Coppola are more than just dance partners.
The former Coronation Street actress, 22, and professional dancer, 30, are fast becoming one of the strongest pairings in this year's series.
Their highest score so far has been for their American Smooth, which received a 39 out of a possible 40 in week seven.
Another huge talking point amongst fans is their undeniable chemistry, with former co-star Amanda Abbington appearing to confirm that they were an item, by declaring them a "beautiful couple" after he planted a kiss on Leach's cheek on live TV during week five.
Coppola's own posts even appeared to suggest this, when he referred to Leach as "my baby" after they rehearsed together last week.
Now, Leach has had her own say on the matter and downplayed it.
"It was only a kiss on the cheek. He gives me a kiss on the cheek every Saturday! It was definitely on the cheek,’ she told OK! magazine.
"We really, really get along and we have a lovely friendship. I hope we can continue that."
She added: "We’ve got a really good relationship where we kind of know what the other needs. Vito even lets me have power naps during training."
So could it be a case of fans projecting the happy ending that they want for Leach, who has previously spoken about getting her heart broken?
Leach split from boyfriend of five years, Reagan Pettman, in May after he cheated on her.
After signing up for Strictly, she said that she hoped the experience would help her build up her experience and that Coppola has been instrumental in that.
Speaking in October, she said: “Being cheated on was upsetting, but now’s the perfect time to put my all into Strictly and give that 500 per cent.
“Self-confidence is something I’ve always struggled with. As an actor, people don’t see that – they think you’re this confident person and you can do anything. I’m hoping Strictly will bring that for me, push me and make me realise I’m capable of things,” she continued.
“Vito has taught me so much already. He tells me, ‘It’s a competition with yourself. If you’re tired, fight it, if you’re stressed, fight it.’ I also don’t praise myself enough, I just focus on the wrong. But then he’ll say to me, ‘Yeah, but you just did that…’”
