Cassidy: 'Simone and I are not an item'

Natalie Cassidy has insisted that she and Vincent Simone are not romantically involved.

The former EastEnders actress was yesterday seen kissing her Strictly Come Dancing partner Vincent Simone. She is in a relationship with Adam Cottrell, a transport manager from Bristol.

Cassidy told the Sunday Mirror: "Nothing is going on with Vincent, who is a flirt. I only have eyes for Adam."

She admitted that Simone was a good dance teacher: "He’s a really good trainer and wants everything to be just right.

"I learned how to jive and waltz and loved every minute. It was harder than I thought it would be. When you watch Strictly on the TV it looks so effortless. But I’ve already got lots of blisters on my feet."

She added that she hopes winning Strictly would shift media attention from her weight issues.

She said: "I feel like with all this weight business all people know me for is my fluctuating waistline. Now, it would just be lovely to be known as the girl who learned to dance and who won Strictly."