Matt di Angelo exclusive
TV STRICTLY IN LOVE.. MATT DI ANGELO ON FABULOUS FLAVIA I love her pixie ears, her hair, her smile and that body. She is stupidly attractive ..every guy in Britain knows it
Eastenders star Matt di Angelo has spoken for the first time about how he fell for his Strictly Come Dancing partner Flavia Cacace.
Flavia has split with her long-term partner Vincent Simone and now she and Matt can't wait to go on a date like a normal couple.
Matt told the Mirror: "I've never felt like this before. When I'm with her I have a stupid, schoolboy grin that says, 'I think you're amazing'. Being with her makes me very happy.
"I love her little pixie ears, her chic short hair, her transfixing smile. And that body, that six pack. She's stupidly attractive. Every guy in Britain knows it.
"She looks drop-dead gorgeous in her dancing outfits. But to me, she's just as amazing when her face is scrubbed clean of make up and she's wearing baggy tracksuit bottoms."
Matt, 20, and Flavia, 28, who came second to Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler in the competition, always denied they were more than friends.
Now, speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Matt confesses the depth of his feelings for the stunning dancer.
"We usually speak twice a day - sometimes six times a day. We end our texts with kisses and I keep her special messages on my phone. I haven't seen her since the final and miss her - I feel like I've lost a limb.
"She's the one I called on Christmas Day. She's the one I called at midnight on New Year's Eve. Oh no, I'm blushing. Have I gone the colour of an Oompa Loompa?"
The couple's red-hot routines and intimate body language hooked millions of viewers who wondered if they were in love. And the actor reveals he was just as confused.
Matt says: "When dancing sometimes we had to look like we wanted to rip each other's clothes off. I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't.
"It wasn't until the final I realised I fancied her. We were together from 8am till 3am and because she was so excited, she looked extra beautiful.
When I saw her in the Mrs Santa Claus outfit, I knew I'd fallen for her.
"I want Flavia to be my girlfriend and I don't want to be big-headed but I think she wants to be with me too."
Matt, seen by millions this week as Deano Wicks in EastEnders carrying his dad Kevin's coffin through Albert Square, hit back at Vincent's claims that he stole his girlfriend.
World tango champion Vincent, 29, said he was infuriated by Matt's onscreen flirting and late night phone calls to Flavia, which she took in the bath of the home they shared in Guildford, Surrey. Flavia has since moved back in with her parents nearby.
Matt insists he believed Flavia and Vincent, her dance partner of 13 years and boyfriend of 11 years, split as early as the show's second week when Vincent was voted off with partner Stephanie Beacham.
He says: "Vincent changed his status on Facebook to single in week two. Then I saw him and Flavia laughing together, and wasn't sure if it was just a domestic.
"I would never have asked Flavia out when she hadn't had time to get over their relationship. I did call her late at night but it was usually to check the fifth step of the cha cha or something.
"Flavia is very private about her personal life so we've never talked about what happened between her and Vincent but she said they'd split.
"He's had a pop at me, saying I was ugly and a rubbish dancer. But we're about to start the Strictly tour so I'll see him then. We'll have a chat and I'll say, 'Hey Vince, are we cool?' If there's a problem we'll talk it through, like two grown men. We won't have a duel at sundown. I need him and everyone to know that I didn't steal his girlfriend.
"Flavia and I haven't kissed or had a date yet. I only let myself fancy her when I knew she was single."
Vincent and Flavia's relationship isn't the first to fall foul of the Strictly Come Dancing curse. Dancer Camilla Dallerup broke up with her fiance Brendan Cole because she said she was humiliated by his flirting with partner Natasha Kaplinsky.
Matt - real name Mario Angelo Constantinou - has filmed his last scenes in the Square and admits he's joined the tour to be with Flavia. He says: "I didn't want to say goodbye."
Matt thanks his lucky stars he got to dance with Flavia. He says: "Someone at the BBC probably decided to partner me with Flavia because I was the shortest male and she's tiny. But I'm so glad they did."
Matt bought Flavia a red iPod for Christmas and received a leather bracelet in return. He's now looking forward to spending more time with the petite Italian brunette.
"My family's Greek, hers is Italian. Family's important to us - I'd love to get married and have a child one day. She'll be the oldest woman I've dated but the age difference doesn't bother me. We have a love already.
But there are five different words for love in Greek and right now I love her and care for her like a firm friend.
"But I'm a romantic - not Mr One Night Stand. I'd like to woo Flavia and take her to dinner or on holiday. Fingers crossed things work out."
Julie.Mccaffrey@Mirror.Co.Uk
