Star admits Strictly romance

Dancer Brian Fortuna has been asking Ali Bastian out forÂ…

10:46 30 September 2009

Strictly Come Dancing's Brian Fortuna has admitted that he has been trying to woo his dance partner Ali Bastian.

Rumours of a simmering romance gathered steam following Bastian's recent split with her boyfriend and the dancing duo spending more time together both in and out of training.

Fortuna confessed to the Daily Mirror: "I've been asking Ali out for three weeks and she keeps shooting me down. Maybe one day she will accept."

Ex-Hollyoaks star Bastian was more reserved: "We've been working so hard on Strictly.

"Brian's taught me so much and he is inspirational. I look forward to coming into training every day."

A BBC spokesperson stated: "Ali's relationship with Brian is purely as dance partners and friends."

Nevertheless, their chemistry has helped make them favourites to win this year's Strictly Come Dancing alongside Hollyoaks star Ricky Whittle and partner Natalie Lowe.

Fortuna continued: "Ali and I are doing the quickstep and have started the choreography and learned all the moves.

"Ricky is a good guy, but it is too early to say who is going to win because we've only done two dances.

"We might dance next week and Ali's dress falls off or we might fall over.

"Who knows? We don't think about the other dancers and only worry about ourselves, and train as hard as we can each week.

"But I must say I think the standard is the highest it has ever been this year."