Wednesday 8 June 2022 07:55 AM Love Island's Tasha Ghouri enjoyed secret dates with Strictly champ Giovanni ... trends now

Deaf Love Island star Tasha Ghouri enjoyed secrets dates with Strictly champion Giovanni Pernice – a month after he won the show with Rose Ayling-Ellis.

Italian pro dancer Giovanni, 31, and Islander Tasha, 23, connected via Instagram and messaged privately on the app, which eventually led to the pair meeting in January. 

Giovanni wined and dined Tasha, who's also a dancer and has performed for the likes of pop star MNEK, but their fling fizzled out due to him being on the Strictly tour.

A source close to Tasha said: 'Giovanni was persistent when it came to Tasha.

'They have a lot in common, both being dancers, and he had just learned a lot about the deaf community performing with Rose on Strictly, who Tasha really admires.

'Tasha was impressed by how gentlemanly he was, taking her out to top London restaurants and offering to send cars to collect her, but she's independent and always made her own way to see him.

'Their romance didn't progress because Giovanni was travelling a lot with the Strictly tour and Tasha was already involved with someone else.'

MailOnline has contacted Love Island and Giovanni's representatives for comment.