Strictly’s Graziano Di Prima insists there are no backstage romances this series

Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano Di Prima has claimed there are no secret backstage romances at the show this year, despite rumours about AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington.

The pro dancer, who was knocked out with celebrity partner Judi Love last weekend, rubbished reports that romance was blossoming between some of the couples, claiming there was no time for anything other than dancing.

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He told The Sun: "The problem is we have so much work, so much rehearsals and so much pressure, do you think the couples do something? Absolutely not, man.

"I’m in love with all of them. I can see any spot, any five minutes break; they’re rehearsing. There’s no romance I think this season."

Viewers had suspected there was something more going on between Odudu and Widdrington, who had turned in a number of intimately charged performances, including one that appeared to almost end in a kiss.

They are not the only couple to have been speculated on as Adam Peaty and Katya Jones were also accused of an "almost kiss" at the end of one dance, with Peaty warning of the "real-life consequences" of gossip.

Jones was famously embroiled in a Strictly Curse scandal in 2018 when she was caught kissing celebrity dance partner Seann Walsh while they were both in relationships with other people.

Di Prima also spoke about his sadness at being voted out with Love, who he had formed a close friendship with, after being left with no time to train following Love's tough recovery from COVID.

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He admitted: "Being at home, In my head there was a little voice telling me 'she’s not gonna make it'. But she did it."

But the couple's efforts were not enough to save them in the dance off against Peaty and Jones, with all four judges opting to send them home.

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