Though they claim to be "just good friends", there have been rumours of a romance between Cheryl Cole and her dancer pal Derek Hough for months.
Now there's been a confirmation that the pair are indeed a couple of X Factor choreographer Brian Friedman.
After meeting up with the pair in Los Angeles – where Derek has been by Cheryl's side as she gets back into the swing of things following her bout of malaria – Brian had plenty to say. "I've been in touch with both Cheryl and Derek since they've been over in LA," he told the Daily Mirror."I'm very close with them both. They're amazing people and they make a great couple. "I thought they would make a good couple, and I'm so pleased to say they do. They’re very, very cute together. "Cheryl and Derek both seem incredibly happy right now – that's all I can say."
Utah-born Derek has proven his devotion to Cheryl on a number of occasions. As well as helping nurse her back to health after she was floored with malaria, he was a shoulder to cry on for the brunette singer following her split and subsequent divorce from Ashley Cole. Then the blonde dancer – who appeared with Cheryl in her Parachute video, and joined her on stage when she supported the Black Eyed Peas on tour - whisked her off on a romantic break to Tanzania. He did so after learning she had fallen in love with the area while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief.
At the time Derek's father said: "It will be one of those dream, romantic holidays that you take when you are just starting a relationship. "Derek is totally in love with that girl and wants to spend as much time as he can with her."