'Sunday snuggles': Lucy Mecklenburgh posts intimate picture of herself with new love interest Louis Smith to Instagram
They're rumoured to have enjoyed a 'string of dates' and former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh and gymnast Louis Smith appear to have cemented their new relationship.
Lucy posted an intimate picture of the two of the two of them to her Instagram account, captioning it with the words, 'Sunday snuggles' - the pair met when she competed on talent show, Tumble.
In the snap, Louis has his eyes closed with a made-up Lucy gazes wistfully at the camera while they both wear matching black ensembles.
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New love: Lucy Mecklenburgh posted this picture of her and gymnast Louis Smith to Instagram, writing, 'Sunday snuggle'
The snap comes just after Louis won Strictly Come Dancing for the second time during the Christmas special.
The 25-year-old competed against fellow contestants from previous series - Rachel Stevens, Lisa Riley, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Chris Hollins and Russell Grant - in the TV special.
Smith, who partnered professional Aliona Vilani, was crowned King of the Christmas Ballroom after earning a perfect score of 40 points from the judges for a quickstep, to the song Jingle Bells.
Champ: The snap comes just after Louis won Strictly Come Dancing for the second time during the Christmas special - he first won in 2012
The gymnast, who was Strictly champion in 2012, lifted the Christmas Silver Star trophy after the score from the judges was combined with the vote from the studio audience in the BBC One show.
Lucy and Louis are said to have met while filming the BBC gymnastics show, which will not return after ending in September, and pals they had lots of chemistry.
‘There were lots of rumours about Louis and Lucy when he was judging Tumble and she was a contestant,’ a source told The Sun’s TV Biz. ‘It’s true they were flirting but nothing happened.’
'Sparks flew': Lucy Mecklenburgh, pictured out in London's Knightsbridge on Tuesday night, has reportedly enjoyed 'a string of dates' with gymnastics hunk Louis Smith
Dressed to impress: The former TOWIE star slipped into an elegant curve-hugging lace dress as she enjoyed her management's Christmas party in central London last Tuesday
The pal claims fitness nut Lucy, 23, initially ruled out the possibility of romance with the Olympic silver and bronze medalist, 25, because at 5ft 10in he is considerably shorter than the towering 6ft 2in she normally goes for.
The source explained: ‘Louis got with someone straight after Tumble but they split and he bumped into Lucy. She must have forgotten about his size because sparks flew and they started dating.
'The way things are looking they could be together for a long time.'
Definite chemistry: Sources claim the pair flirted while filming BBC show Tumble, on which Louis was a judge and Lucy a contestant. In November Louis posted the above picture, which he captioned 'Look who I found.. @lucymeck1 . She looks just as good in a dress as she does in a leotard #tumble'
Posting on Instagram in November, Louis shared a black and white snap of himself with Lucy, who nuzzles into his chest.
The accompanying caption reads: 'Look who I found.. @lucymeck1 . She looks just as good in a dress as she does in a leotard #tumble.'
Lucy’s reported dates with Louis come shortly after a short-lived romance with Welsh TV presenter Gethin Jones.
Lucy and Gethin - who was previously engaged to opera singer Katherine Jenkins - were first linked to each other back in August, before being spotted holding hands while on a date the following month.
Handy: Louis won bronze at the Olympic Games in London two years ago. He has since appeared on a string of celebrity talent shows, among them Strictly Come Dancing and Tumble
But although they have called time on their fleeting romance for now, the Essex-based boutique owner insisted she and Gethin have remained friends.
Speaking in an interview with new! magazine, Lucy said: 'We’re not dating. We went out a few times a while ago but it was bad timing for both of us.
'I was so busy after Tumble and he travels a lot, so it wasn’t the best time.'
Insisting she and Gethin were never 'official', Lucy added: '[We're in touch] as friends. He’s the nicest guy. It was a mutual thing.'
Lucy was previously engaged to her TOWIE co-star Mario Falcone, and enjoyed brief romances with Mark Wright and The Wanted hunk Max George.
Meanwhile, Louis most-recently dated ex-TOWIE star Pascal Craymer, who had a fleeting romance with Lucy's ex, Mario.
MailOnline have contacted Lucy’s representatives for further comment.
In happier times: The former TOWIE star, 23, explained she and the 36-year-old Welshman mutually decided to call time on their liaison after their busy careers put pressure on the relationship
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2889060/Lucy-Mecklenburgh-posts-intimate-picture-Louis-Smith.html#ixzz3NEZ4tl95
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