AJ Odudu and professional partner Kai Widdrington are only four weeks into Strictly Come Dancing, but they have already set tongues wagging that they are more than just friends.
Their electric dance floor chemistry has fans convinced it must translate into real life too.
Even It Takes Two host Janette Manrara grilled the pair on their "deeper connection", while they awkwardly replied they were simply relieved their performance had gone well.
And the 'Strictly curse' rumours only intensified last week, when Kai posted a snap on Instagram showing him gazing into AJ's eyes and beaming - with fans quick to comment on how they would love the pair to get together romantically.
The romance claims were also furthered by their week two performance, during which Kai whispered "I love you" in AJ's ear.
They had performed a steamy American Smooth inspired by the Whitney Houston film The Bodyguard, and each week, Strictly releases "secret mic" audio that gives viewers a quick snippet of what the contestants say to each other on the dance floor.
On BBC's Strictly Instagram, Kai can be heard in the clip singing his partner's praises before saying: "Aww, I love you! I love you so much!"
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Fans of the show went wild, desperate to know if they were really dating.
A source previously told The Sun that Married at First Sight: After Show presenter AJ is falling for her dance partner more week on week.
They said that cast and crew are even placing bets on the pari hooking up and becoming the first romance of the series.
The source said: "Everyone backstage is talking about the sparks flying between AJ and Kai. It’s very passionate and intense whenever they’re together.
"They’re both single and have really hit it off and everyone on the show is saying it’s only a matter of time.
"They’re always laughing and flirting — romance is 100 per cent on the cards. Kai is totally AJ’s type. He’s got loads of banter and he’s been blown away by her, too."
The source continued to say that usually AJ puts her work first, but the two have now collided on the show as she trains for up to 10 hours a day with Kai.
But AJ has firmly denied there is any romance between her and Kai, insisting it was part of the performance.
Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball said: "Some of the newspapers are trying to allude – and I think everyone is hoping and praying – that maybe, romance…?"
She then pointed out AJ was laughing, as AJ replied: "I’m just giggling! Guys, I was in character at that moment on the dance floor this week.
"I was playing Rachel, he was playing Frank [from The Bodyguard]. They were in love!"
Zoe joked: "Bit of roleplay there, that’s how it all begins!"
AJ has recently labelled herself "unlucky in love" explained how she unsuccessfully tried dating apps in her quest for romance.
She said: "I just don’t meet anyone, aside from TV programmes I’ve done. I’m still hoping that I’ll meet my man through a friend. I am a personality girl.
"I like charismatic guys who can take the mickey out of themselves but, when it comes to work, they are focused and they know what they want in themselves and in a partner."
One thing Kai has helped AJ with is her "crippling self-doubt" that threatened to sabotage her time on the show.
"It’s one of those things where you feel like you are confident and then you get into the process and all of the self-doubt seeps in," she told The Sun.
"You just don’t think you’re capable. You just don’t know it’s possible. I definitely do feel nervous and then I feel the pressure and start to tremble."
She continued: "Last week was a tough one, I struggled a lot. I had a lot of self-doubt, even on the day. But somehow Kai managed to make me channel that in a positive way on the dance floor.
"Watching it back, I got goosebumps. I got choked up at the end because Kai puts everything into teaching me the choreography and I always want to do it justice."
AJ has also confessed the thought of catching Covid during her time on the show "scares her".
She described the thoughts as being "stressful" before admitting that her eight hours a day of rehearsing had left her feet "battered and bruised".
She said that the guidelines for Covid testing weren't an issue, however, as she is used to constantly being tested.
But she opened up and confessed she is loving being a part of the show and would be devastated to leave because of the virus.
AJ told Grazia: "What is scary is the potential of being knocked out not based on your dancing ability, not the public vote, but based on the fact you might have contracted a virus."
She went on to lavish praise on her partner, calling him "brilliant".
"As soon as I met him, I got into my dancing gear and it was time to go, we didn't even have time to get a cuppa," she confessed.
The presenter also revealed how she felt like the underdog on the show due to her lack of dancing experience, before claiming her day job could help her as she is used to being on live TV and enjoys showing off.
She joked: "At weddings I'm always the first person up on the dance floor, I don't mind making a fool out of myself; I think that's what I'm bringing to the table; shamelessness! I'm bringing you shameless energy; that's all I've got to give."
* Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday evening on BBC One
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