Derek Hough is said to have surprised Cheryl Cole by whisking her off to Tanzania for a dream romantic holiday.

The dancer, who has been linked to the X Factor judge in recent months, only told her they were going to Tanzania in Africa when they arrived at the airport.

However the pair did not put on any show of affection at London’s Heathrow on Tuesday night and instead walked determinedly apart.

Cheryl then hugged her assistant goodbye before boarding a flight with Dancing With The Stars professional Derek.

Their cosy trip together will do nothing to dampen speculation of a blossoming romance.

Hough’s stepfather has revealed that Derek is head over heels for Cheryl.

Speaking from his Los Angeles home, Aaron Nelson, 54, told the Daily Mirror: ‘They are going somewhere very exotic, very picturesque and it will be a nice break for them. ‘It will be one of those dream romantic holidays that you take when you are just starting out on a relationship. Derek is totally in love with the girl and wants to spend as much time as he can with her.’

Hough is said to have picked the east African country after Cheryl told him she fell in love with the country following her Comic Relief climb up Mount Kilimanjaro last year.

The pair took the 10-hour flight and will spend a short break together before Cheryl returns to Britain for more X Factor auditions next week.

Cheryl dressed in casual faded jeans and a denim jacket, teamed with Louboutin heels as she stalked her way through the airport, while Hough also dressed down in jeans, a T-shirt and trainers.

A source added: ‘[The holiday] was a complete surprise to Cheryl and she couldn’t believe he had gone to so much trouble organising it.

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