Strictly Come Dancing professionals Giovanni Pernice and Jowita Przystal have ended their relationship.
The couple met and fell in love during the last season of the popular BBC show.
They enjoyed several dates after the show but due to their busy schedules and Giovanni touring for the next five months, they have found it impossible to make time for each other.
READ MORE: Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice accidentally ‘confirms’ romance with Jowita Przystal
According to a source close to the pair, they intend to remain good friends.
“Although their relationship has ended, Giovanni and Jowita said they will stay good friends.
“It is just a shame they couldn’t make it work,” said the source.
(Image: BBC)
The Sicilian dancer and Polish pro had kept their relationship under wraps until going public just before Christmas last year when they went to Chelsea ace Jorginho’s birthday party together in Surrey.
They never officially confirmed the romance until recently telling RadioTimes his New Year’s resolution was to keep it under wraps – but when questioned he simply gave a cheeky smile.
They first set tongues wagging with a sizzling start-of-show routine in October.
Crew members were said to have caught them kissing backstage.
Jowita went on to win the competition with wildlife cameraman and presenter Hamza Yassin, but weeks later, they were seen holding hands on a date in London.
(Image: Instagram)
Hamza was hurt by the photographs, as he was said to have become besotted with Jowita during their time dancing together.
A source at the time revealed: “While the pair of them were very close — and he was besotted with her — the romantic attraction was much more on her side than his.
“He was obviously hoping for a relationship. But those hopes were rocked when the news broke that Giovanni and Jowita had grown close.”
(Image: Instagram)
At the time, however, a source said that Jowita had always insisted to Hamza their relationship was nothing more than friendship.
Jowita made history on the show last year by becoming the first professional to win in her first year paired with a celebrity.
She joined Strictly in 2021 and split from pro partner Michael Danilczuk before this year’s series.
Giovanni joined Strictly in 2015 and won with Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021.
He has dated several former contestants, including Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote and singer Ashley Roberts.
He became the first male pro to dance in a same-sex couple alongside BBC Radio 2’s Richie Anderson last year.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
