It takes 3 to tango

By Grant Hodgson And Louise Ford, sundaymirror.co.uk 23/12/2007

Alesha

EXCLUSIVE THE STRICTLY LOVE TRIANGLE Matt is secretly seeing rival Alesha His family say he fancies her like crazy But he's still mad keen on Flavia too..

Strictly Come Dancing heart-throb Matt di Angelo is torn between his beautiful rival and his stunning dance partner on the show.

The star is caught up in an astonishing love triangle with Alesha Dixon and Flavia Cacace.

He has secretly been seeing Alesha and "fancies her like mad".

But he's also captivated by sultry Flavia and they have thrilled millions with their red-hot routines. The duo's sizzling chemistry is behind her break-up with boyfriend Vincent Simone.

A pal told the Sunday Mirror: "Matt's going giddy because he thinks both girls are fantastic.

"He's flirting with Alesha non-stop behind the scenes and has been out with her. I wouldn't like to bet on which one Matt will end up with. The truth is, he doesn't know. They are both absolutely beautiful and he fancies them both."

Our photo of Matt, 20, and Alesha, 29, shows them gazing into each other's eyes with his arm round her shoulders during an unguarded moment at one of last week's Strictly shows. It proves just how close they have become after hitting it off as soon as they met.

But they are desperate to keep their burgeoning romance under wraps after fans spotted them on one date in a North London nightclub.

The former Mis-Teeq singer - who split from her husband rapper MC Harvey a year ago - has confessed to Matt that she has feelings for him.

Last night Matt's granddad, Patrick Chambers, said Matt had confided in the family about his complicated love life. He said: "One of Matt's brothers told me he had something going on with Alesha. She told him that she liked him. They went on one date to a club but they got spotted by someone who knew them and got scared their relationship would be found out.

"They've been a bit more careful since. I knew it was affecting him because he was appearing on Strictly with stubble, looking a bit rough around the edges.

"I don't know about Flavia. I know one thing though - I fancy her!"

Matt and Flavia's relationship was becoming even more intense in the run-up to last night's final, show insiders have revealed.

Despite Matt publicly denying he was dating her - saying that at 28 she was "a lot older" - insiders say the chemistry on set is unmistakable.

"They appear to be inseparable, spending hours together going through their routines," said a Strictly source. "But it goes further than just the final. People are saying they're fast becoming an item."

At our sister paper the Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain awards in October, Matt was spotted with his arm around Flavia's waist while they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes.

The pair have also been spotted together at other events in the capital. They were pictured cosying up in a cafe after a rehearsal last month, but have insisted they are just "very good friends".

Soon afterwards, Flavia's lover Vincent - her professional dance partner of 11 years, who lives just a few doors away from her family in Guildford, Surrey - announced he was now single on social networking website Facebook. A source said: "Matt is being blamed for the break-up.

Vincent and Flavia plan to stay friends as technically they are business partners." Vincent - who appeared on Strictly partnering actress Stephanie Beacham - refuses to speak about the breakdown of his relationship, or about Matt, but the source added: "Vincent and Flavia split up because he could no longer stand their constant flirting behind the scenes. As an Italian man it's an assault on his pride. He thought something was going on.

"But they were dancing together on TV, so what can he do about it? It didn't help that Matt's a strapping 6ft hunk while Vincent barely reaches his shoulders."

Matt told the Sunday Mirror before the nerve-racking final last night: "Strictly has completely taken over every part of my life. I trust Flavia immensely, our relationship is really comfortable and I feel like I've known her for ages."

Matt admits he fancies Flavia, saying "she's stunning" and that they have remarkable chemistry.

And Flavia said Matt was cute, adding: "I've been teaching him some Italian."

The ex-East Enders star - whose real name is Mario Angelo Constantinou - comes from a large Greek-Cypriot family in North London. He has two brothers and a half-sister. His London-born mum Josephine went through a bitter break-up from his Greek-Cypriot dad Stavros when Matt was four.

Stavros has recently emigrated to Australia but Matt has been staying at his dad's home in North London.

Matt said: "We speak regularly and have a normal father-and-son relationship. He's been watching me on Strictly on YouTube. He's very supportive."

Matt's granddad said: "Matt was born to be a star. He's always been into dancing. When he was a nipper he would jump onto our table and swing his hips just like he was Elvis.

"I used to love ballroom dancing as a young man. I was a regular visitor to the Hammersmith Palais in the late 1940s with my sisters Elizabeth and Rose. It was fantastic. I loved the jitterbug and the foxtrot.

"To see Matt dancing so well on Strictly makes me and his grandma Mary so proud. He's always been a thoughtful lad. I say he's got an old head on young shoulders.

"He sees me and Mary whenever he can. He likes to bring me a little bottle of Jack Daniel's whisky as a present. His grandma's been poorly recently and he always wants to know how she is and that she's all right. He's a good lad.

"He had lots of girlfriends before he got the part in EastEnders. After that he told me he was working too hard for girls.

"He was so happy to get the part in EastEnders. We were all over the moon for him.

"He told me, 'Granddad, it's like I've got a new family.' He got very close to Pam St Clements (Pat Butcher). She really took him under her wing and looked after him. They're really close and she's been to see him on the show. Most of them have.

"He's also good friends with Jake Wood who plays Max Branning. He was sad about leaving but they've told him the door is always open.

"He didn't go overboard with the fame thing either. He bought himself a little two-seater car as a treat and he certainly hasn't gone wild with his money. Flashing money around doesn't excite him at all.

"When he got the part in Strictly it was a complete shock. He never told me he was going for it. He came round to tell us when it was confirmed, though. He said, 'Granddad, I'm going to be dancing for the North London people and the Queen!' I thought it was hysterical.

"He loves Bruce Forsyth too. Matt's very respectful of old people and always calls Bruce 'Sir'. Bruce likes that. He's told Matt that he's the only person on the Strictly team to call him Sir. Most of them jokingly call him something a bit less pleasant."

Patrick added: "I last saw Matt a couple of weeks ago at a gym in White City . He was sweating like a trouper, practising hard.

"I've seen him perform live at the BBC studios as well. Most of the East-Enders cast were there too.

"He's had loads of support in London. His family are right behind him, too.

"I've got four kids and eight grandkids and we've all been voting for him. Matt's on the verge of great things and we're all excited for him."

FLAVIA

Age: 28 Born: Naples

Famous for: Pro dancing on Strictly

Love life: Was dating partner Vincent Simone, who she met in 1994

Lows: Had to pull out of Celeb Strictly when Jimmy Tarbuck fell ill

Highs: World champ at Argentine tango twice

ALESHA

Age: 29 Born: Welwyn Garden City, Herts

Famous for: Starring in girl band Mis-Teeq

Love life: Was married to MC Harvey from rappers So Solid Crew

Lows: He cheated on her with Javine Hylton

Highs: Has successful TV & modelling career