Simon Webbe has "too much respect" for Kristina Rihanoff to date her.
The Blue singer was rumoured to be romancing his ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ partner but he’s now spoken out to insist that their relationship is purely professional and platonic.
He said: "Kristina and I have become great friends. She is an amazing teacher and I’m in awe of her and all the dancers. They are unsung heroes. They are like athletes."
Explaining why he’s not enticed by Kristina’s beauty, Simon added: "I have too much respect for Kristina to even suggest anything like romance. I own a model agency and so am surrounded by beautiful women a lot.
"I’ve got too much respect for the ladies I work with. Never mix business with pleasure! When Kristina and I have finished training, we do a high five and go our separate ways."
The 36-year-old hunk – who has been single since splitting from his girlfriend of three years Maria Kouka earlier this year – claims he’s now looking for a different kind of love.
He added to Closer magazine: "If I was ever going to go into a relationship with anybody, I would want to have a friendship with them first. This attraction thing, where you dive straight in and then two years down the line you realise you don’t know the person, is not for me now.
"I am single and I am happy. I am training six days a week and if I do go out, after I’ve had two tequilas, I can’t see anyone anyway."
Simon Webbe respects Kristina Rihanoff ‘too much’ to date her
