Their chemistry is on pointe! Strictly's Debbie McGee cosies up to dance partner Giovanni Pernice as he kisses her on the cheek... after she removes her wedding ring in new shoot

They've hit the headlines recently by dismissing rumours of a secret relationship.

Despite their protests, Debbie McGee, 59, was pictured looking comfortable in the company of her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice, 27, as he kissed her on the cheek and enjoyed a lingering embrace.

The Strictly favourite - who is the widow of magician Paul Daniels - looked relaxed as she wrapped her arms around the Italian, flashing her wedding ring-free hand.

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Wrapped up: Debbie McGee, 59, was pictured looking comfortable in the company of her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice, 27, as they enjoyed a lingering embrace

Wrapped up: Debbie McGee, 59, was pictured looking comfortable in the company of her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice, 27, as they enjoyed a lingering embrace

The petite beauty looked stylish during her appearance as she donned a pink loose-fitting jumper and a pair of eye-catching patterned trousers.

Keeping to her glamorous ways, she worked her trademark blonde tresses into her signature French twist while fellow Strictly professionals Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec looked on.

Dancer Giovanni sported a navy jumper for the occasion as he leaned in for a comforting hug from his dance partner following their successful salsa to I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You.

The Italian star closed his eyes and appeared to kiss her cheek as they caught up.

MailOnline have contacted Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice's reps for comment. 

Relaxed: The Strictly favourite - who is the widow of magician Paul Daniels - looked relaxed as she wrapped her arms around the Italian

Relaxed: The Strictly favourite - who is the widow of magician Paul Daniels - looked relaxed as she wrapped her arms around the Italian

Casual: The petite beauty looked stylish during her appearance as she donned a pink loose-fitting jumper and a pair of eye-catching patterned trousers
Casual: The petite beauty looked stylish during her appearance as she donned a pink loose-fitting jumper and a pair of eye-catching patterned trousers

Casual: The petite beauty looked stylish during her appearance as she donned a pink loose-fitting jumper and a pair of eye-catching patterned trousers

Missing something: Debbie recently removed her wedding ring for a photoshoot and was also seen without the band as she headed to the Strictly live show on Saturday 

Missing something: Debbie recently removed her wedding ring for a photoshoot and was also seen without the band as she headed to the Strictly live show on Saturday 

Since embarking on her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, she has laughed off rumours that she's romantically involved with her ballroom partner, Giovanni.

But Debbie has admitted she shares an undeniable dancefloor chemistry with the handsome 27-year-old - in a partnership with she deems 'magical'.

In a shoot with OK!, which saw her remove her wedding ring, the widow of beloved magician Paul Daniels gushed: 'There’s a magic that is happening. The other dancers take the mickey out of us. He really cares, he doesn’t just care about me, he cares about everybody.'

Comfortable: Keeping to her glamorous ways, she worked her trademark blonde tresses into her signature French twist while fellow Strictly professional Aljaz Skorjanec looked on

Comfortable: Keeping to her glamorous ways, she worked her trademark blonde tresses into her signature French twist while fellow Strictly professional Aljaz Skorjanec looked on

'He makes everyone feel special and that what’s Paul used to do, and that’s what I love about him. We’ve laughed about how similar we are. Why does it happen in life? I don’t know. We just have this incredible bond.’ 

While she has insisted that her relationship with the Italian is strictly professional, the former ballet dancer did open up to the magazine about the possibility of finding love again, following the March 2016 death of her husband of 28 years.

‘I would hate to think I would spend the rest of my life on my own. But I don’t go looking for things. You have to let things come to you and then they’re right,' she said.

‘I look around and see people who haven’t had the life I’ve lived, who never had somebody who loved them as much as Paul loved me. I was so lucky… He was the love of my life and every day got better with him.’

Sealed with a kiss: The Italian star closed his eyes and appeared to kiss her cheek as they caught up

Sealed with a kiss: The Italian star closed his eyes and appeared to kiss her cheek as they caught up

Embrace: Dancer Giovanni sported a navy jumper for the occasion as he leaned in for a comforting hug from his dance partner following their successful salsa to I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
Embrace: Dancer Giovanni sported a navy jumper for the occasion as he leaned in for a comforting hug from his dance partner following their successful salsa to I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

Embrace: Dancer Giovanni sported a navy jumper for the occasion as he leaned in for a comforting hug from his dance partner following their successful salsa to I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

Laughing it off: Since embarking on her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, she has laughed off rumours that she's romantically involved with her ballroom partner, Giovanni

Laughing it off: Since embarking on her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, she has laughed off rumours that she's romantically involved with her ballroom partner, Giovanni

The Surrey-born beauty's comments come after she admitted to embracing the idea that people think Giovanni is interested in embarking on a romance with her.

She told the Daily Express: 'It's absolutely great people think he fancies me. We have a chemistry, a great sense of humour, we both make each other laugh and that has brought us together.'

Debbie said she has a very special friendship with the dancer, and said that because people see them dancing such sexy routines they assume the relationship is that.

She added: 'The truth is we really like each other but it isn't a love affair. We love each other, but we are not in love with each other. It's just one of those very special friendships.

'Magical': But Debbie has admitted she shares an undeniable dancefloor chemistry with the handsome 27-year-old - in a partnership with she deems 'magical'
'Magical': But Debbie has admitted she shares an undeniable dancefloor chemistry with the handsome 27-year-old - in a partnership with she deems 'magical'

'Magical': But Debbie has admitted she shares an undeniable dancefloor chemistry with the handsome 27-year-old - in a partnership with she deems 'magical'

Having fun: In a shoot with OK! , which saw her remove her wedding ring, the widow of beloved magician Paul Daniels gushed: 'There¿s a magic that is happening. The other dancers take the mickey out of us'

Having fun: In a shoot with OK! , which saw her remove her wedding ring, the widow of beloved magician Paul Daniels gushed: 'There’s a magic that is happening. The other dancers take the mickey out of us'

Meanwhile, she said in an interview with Bella magazine: 'I absolutely adore him and I have no doubt that he adores me. We have a great working dance partnership and we really love each other as human beings. 

'So I can see why people want to say there is something going on. We have great chemistry and love dancing together. But there's nothing going on.'

Giovanni meanwhile said: 'I’ve got the winning partner, not just in this competition, but for the rest of my life.

'Debbie has to be the best person I’ve met in this country so far. She is just amazing.'

Ones to watch: Debbie and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice have wowed judges with their precise moves - and raised the eyebrows of fans with their undeniable bond

Ones to watch: Debbie and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice have wowed judges with their precise moves - and raised the eyebrows of fans with their undeniable bond

Lip service: The pair ignited rumours of a romance when they locked lips after a dance routine

Lip service: The pair ignited rumours of a romance when they locked lips after a dance routine

 

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