Maura Higgins goes Instagram-official with Giovanni Pernice

After weeks of speculation, Maura Higgins appears to have confirmed her relationship with Giovanni Pernice by posting a photo of them holding hands over dinner to her Instagram story. The coy snap didn’t show either of their faces but fans were left in no doubt as to whose hand Maura was holding.

Giovanni Pernice and Maura Higgins dating

Last week, Giovanni and Maura were seen looking ‘totally smitten with each other’ and were said to have ‘had a smooch on the dance floor’ in Blackpool after Giovanni’s Him & Me dance show that he is currently touring with Strictly co-star Anton Du Beke.

According to a source who spoke to the MailOnline:

Gio and Maura are very much a couple. Everyone know he's played the field in the past but he is serious about Maura. He's smitten with her, they've become close really quickly and are spending a lot of time together in Blackpool.

How did Maura and Giovanni meet?

Another insider who spoke to OK! Magazine said the relationship started when Giovanni slid into Maura’s DMs. Rumours of their romance began in mid-June when they were spotted at the Polurrian on the Lizard hotel in Cornwall together. They were also spotted on a date at the Italy vs Austria match at Wembley later that month.

Maura had been single since early May, when she announced her split from fellow ex-Islander Chris Taylor. Meanwhile, Giovanni last public relationship was with ex-Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, who he’d met during Strictly 2018. They ended their relationship shortly before the start of the pandemic in January 2020.