Strictly Come Dancing has been one of the only bastions of normality in a year crippled by uncertainty and the cancellation of plenty of our favourite shows, and this weekend saw comedian Bill Bailey lift the Glitterball trophy as the oldest ever contestant to win the competition.
But while the final was full to the rafters with glitz, glamour, incredible footwork and some totes emosh moments, are favourite bit was when Jamie Laing’s sister flirted up a storm with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice – right in front of his rumoured love interest Ranvir Singh.
Made in Chelsea star Jamie received a video messaged from his beloved sister Emily who said, “We’re all behind you”.
“This is just a message to say I love you so much. You have got this, you’re in the final – that’s amazing,” she gushed.
“You’ve come so far since week one and that cha cha – and those trousers.”
She went on to wish her big bro luck before adding, “Oh, and give Giovanni my number”.
CHECK OUT stars who found love on the dancefloor
Slide 2 of 12
-
-
- Did Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole have a Strictly affair?
Strictly’s Camilla Dallerup revealed she suffered a ‘mini death’ when her fiancé Brendan Cole reportedly left her in 2004 for his Strictly dance partner Natasha Kaplinsky. Natasha and Brendan never confirmed they were romantically involved.
Natasha said: “There was chemistry, of course, and I certainly fell in love with dancing, but I did not fall in love with Brendan.”
The pair have since married other people, whilst Camilla married former Hollyoaks star Kevin Sacre in 2010.
-
- Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff: Strictly scandal turns fairy tale
After splitting with his girlfriend of five years, Jo-Emma Larvin, just one week into his stint on Stricly in 2009, boxer Joe Calzaghe and professional partner Kristina Rihanoff soon embarked on a romance – splitting in 2013 after four years together.
-
- Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff Strictly scandal turned into true love
Following his 2013 stint on the show, rugby star Ben Cohen revealed he’d split from wife of 11-years Abby. He was then forced to deny he was romantically involved with former partner Kristina Rhianoff, after the pair were spotted linking arms on a London tube train.
Ben and Kristina have since started a relationship and the pair welcomed their first child together in 2016.
-
- Did Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace date on Strictly Come Dancing?
Things must have been awkward backstage at Strictly in 2007 when Flavia Cacace reportedly dumped her long-term dance partner and boyfriend of eight-years, Vincent Simone, for Eastenders actor Matt Di Angelo.
At the time the actor told the Daily Mail: “The funny thing was the story did not start off as true, but the more you read it, the more you started to believe it and actually act on it.”
However, Flavia split from Matt in 2010 and went on to wed actor Jimi Mistry (who she met whilst partnered together on Strictly in 2010) in December 2013.
-
- Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna: Strictly relationship
Former Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian and her dance partner, Brian Fortuna, got together in 2009 after starring together on the show – but split a year later.
-
- Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev: Strictly Come Dancing fairy tale ending
Rachel Riley shocked everyone when she revealed she was splitting from husband of just 15-months Jamie Gilbert during her time on Strictly in 2013. Less than a year later, the Countdown star announced she was dating her Strictly partner Pasha Kovalev – but insisted there was no overlap between the two romances.
-
- Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev: Strictly Come Dancing relationship
Kara Tointon not only bagged the Strictly glitter ball in 2010 but also a hunky new boyfriend when she embarked on a romance with her Strictly partner Artem Chigvintsev.
However, after three years of being together the pair split, and the former EastEnders actress told The Telegraph: “We are not together. We’re fine, but we aren’t a couple anymore.”
-
- Georgia May Foote and Sean Ward: Strictly Curse
When Georgia entered the competition in 2015 she was dating her Coronation Street co-star, Sean Ward. At the time she reassured everyone that she was in a happy relationship and she was just good friends with her dance partner Giovanni.
However, shortly after the competition finished she ended her relationship with Sean and started a relationship with Giovanni.
Unfortunately Georgia and Giovanni split before series 14 started. The former Coronation Street actress announced the news on Twitter, writing: “It is with great sadness we have decided to split up. There is nobody else involved.
“Although it was not an easy decision to make sometimes you realise that it is better to be friends and this is one of those times.
“We both have very busy work schedules for the rest of the year so we are both going to focus on our upcoming work projects and we wish each other well for the future.”
-
- Did Helen George split from Oliver Boot because of Strictly?
Helen George appeared on Strictly in 2015 and split from her husband Oliver Boot of three years. Were they hit by the Strictly curse?
-
Next:
Here’s what all of the past Big Brother winners are doing now
- Did Susanna Reid and Dominic Cotton break up because of Strictly?
Susanna Reid featured on Strictly during series 11. After the show finished, Susanna and her partner Dominic Cotton split.
The TV presenter denied the end of their relationship being related to the Strictly curse, she told the Daily Mirror: “I think people think Strictly was bound in what happened. It wasn’t.
“Obviously things have been challenging in my personal life but we are getting things sorted.”
WATCH ‘That’s weird!’ What has Curtis Pritchard been messaging AJ’s girlfriend?!
Geddit, sis.
Giovanni was part of the audience alongside his dance partner, Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh, who were just pipped to the post in the quarter final after dancing against Jamie and Karen Hauer in the previous week’s dance off.
And though Ranvir’s reaction to Emily’s advances wasn’t caught on screen, some fans couldn’t help make their feelings known as romance rumours have followed the dance partners throughout the series.
READ MORE
Chloe Sims ‘walks away’ from on/off Pete Wicks romance in dramatic TOWIE scenes
Kerry Katona and Holly Hagan sign up for Celebs on the Farm
TOWIE: Have Tommy Mallet and Georgia Kousoulou fallen out with Gatsby?
“Ok Jamie’s sister needs to back off,” joked one commenter. “The whole nation wants Ranvi and Giovanni together #StrictlyFinal”.
Another said, “Jamie’s sister 😂 bet @ranvir01 is seething and defo wants a bit of @pernicgiovann1 #Strictly”.
Others were just happy for the laugh, with one saying, “Jamie’s sister to win Strictly 2020” and another writing, “Listen Jamie’s sister, in case you didn’t know, there’s a queue for it 😂”.
