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Strictly celeb in a secret relationship with dance partner

"They're not official yet, but things are really heating up"

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It’s not a surprise that some couples find love on Strictly Come Dancing, getting up close and personal while dancing, how can they not?

It seems another dance couple have sparks flying!

Louis Smith, who was the champion of the show in 2012, is allegedly dating his tour partner Florence Edge.

According to The Sun, the Olympic Gymnast has secretly been dating the brunette beauty, which would be his first romance since his first girlfriend TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh.

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However, his new girl looks very similar to his ex.

A source said: “Louis and Flo are really into each other after growing close on tour.

“They’ve been enjoying each other’s company dining out and going on romantic dog walks together.

“He’s still taking things slowly though – they’re not official yet but things are really heating up between them.”

Rumours first surfaced after Florence shared a picture of herself and Louis enjoying a meal with friends.

She is seen cosying up the the Olympic hunk as they say their farewell to fellow Keep Dancing tour member Rose Wild.

His new flame will be a nice change for the star, who confessed he wouldn’t date before he competed in the Olympics.

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He said: “Women are a distraction and when you’ve got something as serious as the Olympic Games ahead of you, it’s good to stay focused.

“I definitely haven’t been dating lately, and I don’t plan on dating until well after the Olympics.”

Poster

Well, good luck to him – he deserves some happiness after a rather rocky time in the public eye this autumn.

He was forced to make an official apology after posting to social media what was deemed by many as a ‘racist’ video, in which he is appearing to mock Islam.

Appearing on ITV’s Loose Women soon after the incident, Louis was remorseful as he looked to explain the background to the ‘drunken’ video, in which he is seen kneeling to pray.

The clip also features fellow gymnast Luke Carson shouting “Allahu Akbar” and it led to Louis receiving death threats from jihadists.

The ITV show had to bring in extra security for Louis’s appearance on the panel.

However, in a twist, the Loose Women then came under fire for their treatment of the gymnast during the interview.

Viewers took to social media to take the panellists to task for their apparent ‘bullying’ of the Olympian.

Louis tried to explain his behaviour by saying that he had been “acting like an idiot” during some down time after the Rio Olympics.

But as he tried to explain himself further, he was repeatedly interrupted.

Janet Street Porter asked: “You’re not a teenager, isn’t that the behaviour of someone younger?”

Louis replied: “It’s been such a crazy year and I haven’t really had a chance to act like an idiot after the Rio olympic games, it was a time when I was at my best friends wedding, all my friends and family were there and [I was] in a place where you think you’re safe and you can perhaps be a bit of an idiot.”

June Sarpong then questioned Louis as to whether his actions were inappropriate due to his mixed-race background.

Louis insisted though that he wasn’t a racist, as he defended himself.

He said: “What I did wasn’t racist. What I did was very offensive.

“It’s certainly not racist, I’ve encountered it myself. It’s something that I do not condone.”

Former Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley jumped to his defence, after she got to know while competing against him on Strictly.

She argued: “I’ve known Louis for four years now, you are a good person.

“All this fame has gone to your head? Were you wrapped up in it?”

Louis denied this, saying he was “just living my life” but was “ashamed of my actions”.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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