Olympic gymnast Louis Smith has reportedly struck up a friendship with former The Only Way Is Essex reality star Lucy Mecklenburgh.

The sportsman, who won a gold and bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, is working as a judge on BBC One show Tumble alongside contestant Mecklenburgh.

According to The Mirror, Smith had a crush on the reality star prior to the show starting, but the pair have been spending more time together backstage.

The 25-year-old revealed in May that he wanted to "settle down" and start a family.