Strictly Ashley's red-hot romance
Dancing pair ‘inseparable’ at afterparty
SEXY Strictly star Ashley Roberts did more than score the first top marks of this year’s series at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Saturday night.
The former Pussycat Doll also left her fellow celebs in no doubt that she has scored with Italian stallion Giovanni Pernice following their flirty antics at the aftershow party.
A crew source revealed: “It was the talk of Blackpool. Ashley and Gio were inseparable.
“She was literally gazing into his eyes all night. She’s the Pussycat that’s got the cream.
“When they were together at the party, it was like no-one else was in the room.
“The sparks are definitely flying there. They’re both single and keen to mingle – so watch this space.”
Former I’m A Celebrity star Ashley was on a high after notching up the series first 40 out of 40 for her stunning jive with professional dance partner Pasha Kovalev.
They wowed the audience with their routine to Shake A Tail Feather and TV judge Bruno Tonioli even told her the dance would “go down in Strictly history”.
A huge 11.3million viewers tuned in to see the performances in Blackpool.
However, once the cameras stopped rolling the celebrities, dancers and crew headed to their hotel bar to party.
They were celebrating the recent birthdays of Strictly stars including singer Faye Tozer – who is Giovanni’s dance partner – pro dancers Luba Mushtuk and Janette Manrara, as well as the 2017 contestant Gemma Atkinson, who is dating dancer Gorka Marquez.
But all eyes were on Ashley, 37, and Giovanni, 28, at the boozy bash.
Just 24 hours before, Giovanni had been at the centre of rumours he was getting close to Faye after being snapped feeding her in a restaurant and wiping food off her lips.
But the hunk laughed off the suggestion, while he and Ashley are refusing to speak publicly about a romance.
Last week Giovanni – who in the past dated ex-Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote – appeared on ITV’s This Morning. He was asked how Ashley was and quipped: “Who?”
Ashley has also claimed she has no time for love and is only focussed on learning her dances.
But when asked about Gio, she did let slip: “We’ve gone out for drinks. He’s a lovely guy. What happens after that, I don’t know.”
Before she started on Strictly, Ashley admitted she was on the hunt for a man and she was especially turned on by a fella who could dance.
The former Dancing On Ice judge, who has previously been linked to Declan Donnelly and Strictly judge Shirley Ballas’s son Mark, said: “If a guy has rhythm and can dance, it is definitely attractive and a bonus.
“The Latin dances have a lot of hip movements which are quite sexy. They move them in a way that is so sensual, grounded, strong and confident.”