Good golly Mollie, are you waltzing into love?

BEFORE the latest series of Strictly started, singer Mollie King insisted she was not looking for love because it might hamper her chances of winning.

But a smouldering performance on Saturday night – and a huge hint from head judge Shirley Ballas – has added fuel to rumours she is getting close to her dance partner AJ Pritchard.

Mollie, 30, of girl band The Saturdays, and AJ, 22, did little to quash speculation of a fledgling romance when they chose the Cilla Black song Anyone Who Had A Heart for their tender Viennese waltz.

The obvious passion did not go unnoticed, with Shirley saying their dance was “romantic with very believable chemistry”, while fellow judge Darcey Bussell said the pair had “grown as a partnership”.

The singletons are enjoying their time off-screen as much as on it, according to the professional dancer’s father.

Gaffe

Adrian Pritchard said: “Anybody would like Mollie, she is a very beautiful lady, she has a great personality. What is there not to like?

“They are spending more time with each other than a married couple would do. They are going for coffees together and strolls in the parks in London whenever they have breaks from the training. Whether they are now an item – you will have to ask AJ about that.”

Privately educated Mollie has previously dated model David Gandy and was linked to Prince Harry who apparently cooled their romance because she was “too open” about their dates.

Speaking to the Daily Express before the show she said: “I’m single but I’m not looking for love. I’ve got too much to learn to be worrying about men right now. I don’t want to get distracted.”

On Saturday Shirley, 57, continued her gaffe-prone start to Strictly when she told amputee Jonnie Peacock Romantic: AJ and Mollie waltz on Saturday night he put a new meaning to the phrase “putting a spring in your step”. The Olympic sprinter’s leg was amputated below the knee as a child.

Last week she apologised after mistaking Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins, 42, for Mollie. Last night Debbie McGee topped the board for her rumba with Giovanni Voted off... Brian Conley