Strictly's Kristina opens up about Joe Calzaghe

Monday, 19th October 2009.

The newest rejects of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing may not dance together again, but if Kristina Rihanoff has her way, the relationship she's developed with Joe Calzaghe looks set to continue off the dancefloor.

Rumours have been rife about the blossoming love between the former boxing champion and his professional partner Kristina ever since they began training for the reality show.

And despite neither of them coming clean about it, their flirting and closeness from rehearsals right through to their live routines made it clear for all to see they were more than just dance partners.

But now, it appears, Siberian-born Kristina has confessed how she really feels about the 37 year-old Welshman.

Speaking to Hello! Magazine, she said: "He's a very handsome man, but actually to me the way he is is even more attractive than the way he looks. We really, really like each other.

But when asked directly if she wanted something more serious to develop between them, the 32 year-old added: "God, I don't really know, to be honest. It's a tough question, which I haven't really asked myself - maybe because I'm afraid to know the answer.

"So far, unfortunately, I've been dealing with men with no backbone, who make promises they cannot keep.”

Rihanoff is presently single after splitting with fellow Strictly dancer Vincent Simone earlier this year whilst Calzaghe is also a free agent after recently ending a long-term relationship with Jo-Emma Larvin.

Calzaghe has made no bones about what he thinks of his dance partner, declaring even before the live Strictly shows began, that she was, "one hot chick".

But is this hot chick set to become Calzaghe's new woman? We'll have to wait and see.