HRVY has revealed his rumoured romance between him and fellow Strictly Come Dancing star Maisie Smith was just for the cameras.
The singer and YouTube star, 22, was one of the favourites to win the competition when he was paired up with professional dancer Janette Manrara on the BBC One show last year.
But viewers were also captivated by the chemistry between him and EastEnders star Maisie, with rumours swirling that the duo were more than just friends.
The young couple were reportedly spotted in passionate kissing at the Strictly wrap party in December, and fuelled reports they had struck up a relationship by talking about their attraction to each other in interviews.
However, HRVY, real name Harvey Cantwell, has finally confessed there was no romance between him and Maisie, 19, but they decided to play up their close friendship to get everyone talking.
"Nothing happened. It was funny to watch everyone talk about it. Sometimes we were like, 'Shall we play up to it?' We are really good friends and still speak,” he told The Sun.
Maisie and and pro partner Gorka Marquez were odds-on favourite to scoop the glitterball trophy after being awarded high scores by judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse every week for their impressive routines.
But the former child star was subjected to harsh criticism from some viewers, who called out her previous dance training and accused her of being cocky.
"I thought she did great with all the pressure she was under as a lot of the public weren't too kind to her at the beginning but it was cool to see her be strong. People changed their view on her,” HRVY explained.
"Everyone, especially at the moment, is saying, 'You should be strong and confident', but as soon as someone who is beautiful and confident and talented shows it and believes in it, they go, 'That's too cocky, you can't do that',” he sighed.
“It's hard, but she did amazing.”
The cheeky twosome fooled Strictly fans with their showmance, and in an interview late last year, HRVY hinted he was keen to take their close friendship further once the show had ended.
“Maisie really is so lovely and beautiful. She’s a really good friend of mine and I think she’s an amazing dancer.
“Not a lot can really happen between us because we have to be two metres apart, but I am excited to see how things blossom,” he told The Sun.
Maisie wasn’t shy in making her feelings towards the heartthrob clear.
“He is a beautiful-looking guy. I don’t know what would happen in the future, but for now we are getting along really well as friends,” she teased.
Both HRVY and Maisie made it to the Strictly final, alongside Jamie Laing and Karen Hauer, but lost out to Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse, with the 55-year-old comedian becoming the oldest winner in the show's history.