There are rumours of a romance between Bianca Guaccero and Giovanni Pernice (Image: Instagram/biancaguacceroreal)

Giovanni Pernice and his dance partner Bianca Guaccero were seen cosying up in Rome as rumours of a relationship grow after they were paired up on Ballando con le Stelle

Giovanni Pernice has been seen cosying up to his dance partner Bianca Guaccero while walking in Rome and then heading for an intimate lunch date.

The Sicilian dancer, 34, is starring on Ballando con le Stelle – the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing – with the 43-year-old actress and television presenter. The pair have sparked romance rumours as they shared a kiss on the show after performing a Rumba routine – and according to several reports in Italian media, they were also spotted kissing in front of her home.

On Friday, Giovanni and Bianca were pictured smiling and laughing while looking at each other adoringly in the streets of Rome. They then headed to a restaurant to grab lunch, where they were seen smiling and talking while sipping a coffee.

The pair have been paired on Ballando con le Stelle, the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing ( Image:Rai 1) 
During their lunch date, Giovanni opted for a casual look, wearing a black Nike hoodie paired with tracksuit bottoms, trainers and aviator sunglasses. Bianca looked stylish in a star print cardigan paired with a black vest, leggings and ankle boots.

Rumours of a relationship between the pair have been growing in recent weeks – and during an appearance on Italian TV programme Casa Chi, Bianca admitted she feels “lucky” to have Giovanni by her side as she declared: “He is making me become a better person.” She added: “I think when you have, next to you, a friend, a partner, a brother, a person who instead of bringing you down, being jealous of you, or taking your light away, wants to make this light shine in an even more powerful way than you do alone, then that person becomes an added value in your life. If you meet them, you are a lucky person, and I feel like a lucky person.”

And also Bianca’s mum seems to approve of her reported relationship with Giovanni, according to Today, as she said: “I really like Giovanni because I see Bianca happy…The only thing I would like for her is love and happiness, a person who can truly appreciate her.”

It comes after a friend of Giovanni said he is “looking to the future” and he “loves dancing with Bianca,” according to Mail Online. The pal added: “He has a twinkle in his eye, and never more so than when you mention her. She is the perfect person for him to have been partnered with after the whole Amanda saga. He has been through a really difficult time and was thrilled to be dancing again but didn’t realise he would have someone as wonderful as Bianca to do that with.”

Giovanni joined Ballando con le Stelle after leaving Strictly amid a scandal involving actress Amanda Abbington. While an internal BBC investigation eventually cleared the star of wrongdoing, word has emerged that the dancer is effectively banned from ever returning to Strictly due to the past year of controversy.