Rose Ayling-Ellis visited pro dance partner Giovanni Pernice in his native Sicily and met his family

STRICTLY winner Rose Ayling- Ellis visited pro dance partner Giovanni Pernice in his homeland and met his sister.

It comes after the duo’s close bond on the show sparked speculation they could be more than friends.

EastEnders actress Rose, 27, posed with 32-year-old Italian Giovanni at his sister’ Angela’s dance studio in Sicily.

The pair wrapped their arms around each other and smiled.

Angela was with them in the picture along with Strictly’s Anton du Beke and got to chat to Rose.

Giovanni was filming a new BBC1 travel show with 56-year-old Anton when Rose turned up.

The Sun on Sunday recently re­vealed that she had split from her boyfriend of seven years, Sam Arnold.

And Giovanni has been single since splitting from Love Island’s Maura Higgins, 31, last October.

The dancer revealed last week that he was learning British Sign Language as part of a Cadbury fingers campaign.

And he wrote online: “If more of us learnt a little sign language, we could help more people feel included.”

Deaf Rose replied: “Love this very much”, and added to the message with a smiley face emoji with hearts.

The pair won last year’s Strictly. A source said: “Rose helped Giovanni see the world through new eyes and he’s dedicated to learning sign language for her.”

Giovanni previously dated his 2015 partner, former Corrie star Georgia May Foote, 31, Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, 40, and Towie’s Jess Wright, 36.