Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice makes cheeky joke about ‘closeness’ to partner Rose Ayling-Ellis as they dance together

STRICTLY dancer Giovanni Pernice has cheekily joked about his “closeness” to partner Rose Ayling-Ellis.

The professional has formed a strong bond with the show’s first deaf dancer over the series.

Last night Strictly: It Takes Two, host Janette Manrara joked: “Giovanni mentioned how close you were actually going to be, but Rose you weren’t very excited about it.”

The 27-year-old had teased Giovanni about his “sweaty” body during a gruelling training session this week.

After playing out the clip, Giovanni shouted: “People will pay to have this sweat. People would pay to be that close to me.”

Last month Rose and Giovanni moved Strictly viewers to tears with their silent dance.

And even Giovanni got emotional as he held back tears while telling his EastEnders actress partner that he loved her.

Head judge Shirley Ballas stood up “in respect” as praised the performance as one that would “be etched in her heart for a long, long time”.

Anton Du Beke, who has been part of the Strictly cast since its debut in 2004, called it the “greatest thing he has ever seen on the show” as he held back tears.

Even harsh judge Craig Revel Horwood had good things to say, simply calling the routine “fabulous”, while Motsi concluded that it was “so special”.

Fans said they were “sobbing” over the stunning contemporary number performed to Clean Bandit’s hit Symphony.

Viewers broke down when the music stopped midway through the performance seeing deaf star Rose, 26, and Giovanni, 31, dance in complete silence.

They were also left “screaming” for the pair to “kiss” as the dancer told Rose “I love you” as they embraced at the end of their dance.

“No dance on Strictly has ever made me cry so many tears,” one woman wrote, as a second chimed in: “Giovanni and Rose you have made me cry!”

“Rose & Giovani’s dance has pretty much broken me. May go off in a corner and cry for a bit,” a third agreed of the emotional dance.

“I am full on sobbing at Rose and Giovanni’s couple’s choice dance,” wrote a fourth as a fifth concluded: “Between sobbing I was screaming ‘kiss her’!”