Ryan Giggs confronts rumours of romance with Strictly's Gemma Atkinson

Ryan Giggs has broken his silence on romance rumours with Strictly Come Dancing star Gemma Atkinson.

The 43-year-old Welsh football coach has quashed the reports that is in a relationship with the gorgeous Emmerdale actress, who is currently partnered up with Alijaz Skorjanec. She was also recently rumoured to have been dating Alexandra Burke's dance partner Gorka Marquez.

But former Manchester United player Giggs addressed the romance rumours on Manchester radio station Key 103, joining Atkinson as a guest on her show. When asked about the rumours by her co-hosts Matt and Mike, Giggs said: "As if!"

He later went on to state that he and Atkinson are just good friends.

Giggs explained: "Me and Gemma have been friends for a long time. And you know, as if!"

Responding to his joke, Atkinson quipped: "Oh cheers!"

32-year-old Atkinson – who rose to fame playing Lisa Hunter on the Channel 4 teenage soap opera Hollyoaks – also hit back at the dating claims.

She said: "Anyone I hang about with of the opposite sex people say I'm going out with.

"Whenever we all go out together as friends people say we're in a relationship," she added.

Atkinson also opened up on her past fling with football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, telling the radio station: "It was really, really glamorous. We just went to my house and drank cups of tea, and watched Only Fools and Horses. Genuinely.

"I don't know if he's into it now but it was on the telly. He seemed to enjoy it then but that was six or seven years ago."

Romantic news aside, Atkinson has been working hard ahead of Saturday's show, sharing a snap on Instagram with Skorjanec with the caption: "Last rehearsal done for #TeamAliG Wish us Luck! We really, really want to Keeeeep Dancing!!!! @aljazskorjanec @bbcstrictly".

Watch Gemma Atkinson in action tomorrow night on Strictly, which airs at 6.45pm on BBC1.