STRICTLY judge Craig Revel Horwood has admitted he "didn't see that coming" as he reacts to Ellie Leach and Bobby Brazier's secret romance.
The 2023 co-stars have grown close on tour - sharing kisses and dates off-stage.
The Sun revealed series winner Ellie is said to be "gutted" about the news coming out so soon.
She had hoped to keep it under wraps for a bit longer, it's believed.
Craig told the Metro: "Ellie and Bobby?! No, I didn’t [see that coming], I didn’t even know about that, but there you go."
Ellie, who played Faye in Corrie, was rumoured to have grown close to dance partner Vito Coppola while on the BBC1 show.
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She was spotted leaving her hotel with Bobby, but they swiftly separated when they noticed they were being photographed.
The next day they were pictured leaving separately.
An insider said: “Ellie is super private and doesn’t really like people talking about her love life.
"She’s just keeping her head down and concentrating on the tour for now.”
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continues, ending at London's O2 on February 11.
LOVE CLUES
ELLIE and Bobby might have managed to fool fans with their romance - yet the clues were there
DANCE DATE
The duo were dancing all night long after the Strictly tour wrapped in Birmingham.
The Sun on Sunday later revealed Bobby and Ellie partied with the tour cast until 3am — hours before they were due on stage.
DELIBERATE DISTRACTION
Jade Goody and Jeff Brazier's son fuelled romance rumours with his dancing partner when he branded the red-head "my Juliet".
Yet this swerved any attention away from him and Ellie.
PERI NICE
The pair were seen enjoying a cheeky Nando's date as they attempted to keep their romance under wraps.
The duo exited the popular eatery as they enjoyed some time off together