Danny Cipriani’s wife Victoria has reportedly been left devastated after seeing pictures of him getting close to Strictly Come Dancing professional Jowita Przystal.
Victoria was said to have been stunned by the photos, with her pals telling The Sun: ‘It was like she was knifed in the heart.’
The pair looked cosy as they left their first training session for the Strictly Christmas special on Wednesday.
The former rugby player, 36, has thrown himself into rehearsals, just days after announcing his split from his wife Victoria.
Jowita, 29, meanwhile, is thought to be single after splitting from Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice, 33, earlier this year.
Distraught: Danny Cipriani’s wife Victoria has reportedly been left devastated after seeing pictures of him getting close to Strictly Come Dancing professional Jowita Przystal (right)
Devastating: Victoria (pictured) was said to have been stunned by the photos, with her pals telling The Sun : ‘It was like she was knifed in the heart’
A source told The Sun: ‘Victoria was gutted to see the pictures of Danny and Jowita.
‘It’s only been nine days since Danny announced on Instagram they had split — which Victoria had no idea about.
‘That was distressing enough for her.
‘But to see her husband so close with to another woman is absolutely heartbreaking for her.’
has contacted representatives for Danny, Jowita and the BBC for comment.
Sources claimed the pair could be a ‘sizzling pairing’ for the Strictly Christmas special and will spend many hours together during two weeks of rehearsals before their performance.
The pair were pictured saying a warm goodbye with a close hug as they said goodbye before hopping into their waiting cars.
According to reports, Danny’s participation in the Christmas special, which will air on Christmas Day, is a trial to see how well he could do if he wanted to take part in the series next year.
Getting close? The pair looked cosy as they left their first training session for the Strictly Christmas special on Wednesday
An insider told The Sun: ‘BBC bosses must have had some idea it would be a sizzling pairing on the dancefloor, but on a personal level probably didn’t expect them to get so close, so soon.
‘They join a long line of stars and pros who’ve found themselves growing closer as a result of long, intimate sessions in the rehearsal studio.’
Danny is one of six stars taking part in this year’s Strictly Christmas Special, joining Keisha Buchanan, Tillie Amartey, Sally Nugent, Dan Snow and Jamie Borthwick.
He said: ‘I’ve always enjoyed the concept of Strictly Come Dancing, it wasn’t something I ever thought I’d do.
‘After addressing my own ideas and beliefs, I am very much looking forward to expressing myself through dance with no limitations.
‘Strictly brings joy to everyone’s living rooms, being a part of that for Christmas Day will be special.’
Last week, exclusively revealed Danny and his wife Victoria called time on their relationship a fortnight ago following a series of ‘difficult’ rows over text messages on his phone.
At the time, Danny released a statement to announce the news, telling his Instagram followers he ‘only wished the best’ for his ex.
All over: Last week, exclusively revealed that Danny and his wife Victoria called time on their marriage a fortnight ago following a series of ‘difficult’ rows
Single: Jowita, meanwhile, is thought to be single after splitting from Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice earlier this year (pictured together on the show last year)
Since then, Victoria has announced that shockingly, she was ‘made aware of the situation at the same time as the public’ in a now deleted post.
The media personality opened up about the difficult time and apologised for her ’emotionally charge response.’
She wrote: ‘Danny publicly announced our split without any prior notice or discussion with me. I was made aware of the situation at the same time as the public, and this has caused me a great deal of pain.
‘I apologise if my reactions and responses have seemed reactive or emotionally charged.
‘The truth is, I am still going through a difficult time, and it is challenging for me to see Danny speaking about our separation publicly while I have not yet found the strength to process it, adjust or heal.
Victoria concluded: ‘I really don’t want to be caught up in the fanfare. Sorry for any hurt I have caused.’
It comes after she allegedly had a furious spat with model Isa Yasmijn after she saw her husband chatting to Isa at an event.
Victoria is said to have confronted fitness trainer Isa at the event before later finding the messages shared with Isa and other women.
Practice: The pair shared their first photo together ahead of the festive special, which is just weeks away
It is claimed there was nearly a scrap between Victoria and Isa at a November 4 event hosted by rugby player Danny and self-help guru Garrett Kramer at the Four Seasons in London’s Mayfair.
A source told The Sun: ‘Something was different about him. Normally Danny only has eyes for Vic but he wasn’t giving her half the attention he usually would.’
They added: ‘It was like he didn’t really want her there. When they got to the talk, Danny was playing the crowds.
‘Vic noticed he was looking at other women including Isa, chatting them up, and alarm bells started going off.’
The couple, who married in April 2021, are set to call in divorce lawyers after they parted a fortnight ago.
A source in their inner circle and close to the couple revealed that up until the summer, all had been well in the marriage.
But the source added: ‘Victoria had been increasingly unhappy over the last few months. Things got tense and then she saw some text messages on his phone and it led to some difficult rows between them and they have now split up.’
Update: Victoria has announced that shockingly, she was ‘made aware of the situation at the same time as the public’ in a now deleted post
Oopsy: In a blunder, Danny claimed they were separating after four years of marriage – when their wedding day was two years ago
Furious: Victoria is said to have confronted fitness trainer Isa (pictured) at the event before later finding the messages shared with Isa and other women
The former England rugby ace has moved out of their Kent home and is staying at another address, although he has been seen visiting there over the last week, the source added.
‘They are both devastated at the breakdown of their marriage’ the source said.
Danny released a statement after the split, telling his 221,000 Instagram followers that he ‘only wished the best’ for his ex.
But in a blunder, he claimed they were separating after four years of marriage – when their wedding day was two years ago.