Georgia May Foote splits with Strictly partner and boyfriend Giovanni Pernice

Actress Georgia May Foote and her Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice have split up - less than a year after confirming their relationship.

The pair met when they were partnered on the dancing show in 2015 but Foote has said it is better for them to be friends.

She wrote on Twitter: "'It is with great sadness we have decided to split up. There is nobody else involved.

"Although it was not an easy decision to make, sometimes you realise that it is better to be friends and this is one of those times.

'We both have very busy work schedules for the rest of the year so we are both going to focus on our upcoming work projects and we wish each other well for the future."

Foote, 25, added that she had real feelings for her former boyfriend, writing: "Nothing I ever said about my feelings to Gio were fake before people start. I still love him very very much. But things change. Please..."

She added: "Be respectful to me at this time by not saying awful things. This is a hard time for me."

Pernice, 25, retweeted Foote's message.

The couple were runners-up on Strictly Come Dancing, losing out to The Wanted's Jay McGuiness and Aliona Vilani.

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