Call The Midwife star Helen George inadvertently sparks romance rumours as she poses with a handsome mystery man during trip to Italy

Call The Midwife star Helen George sparked romance rumours on Tuesday after she was snapped sharing a series of cuddled photos with a mystery man while on holiday in Italy.

The 40-year-old actress sparked speculation among fans online after she shared a series of photos from her latest vacation, which featured some new faces.

She looked stunning in the many photos, including a bikini selfie and a few group shots where she stood close to a never-before-seen brunette man.

Curious fans of the star rushed to the comments, writing: ‘Who’s the new guy?’ and ‘A new friend? Very handsome!’

However, Helen was quick to deny the romance rumors and confirmed that the mystery fan was in fact just a friend who is married.

The 40-year-old actress sparked speculation among fans online after sharing a series of photos from her latest vacation, featuring some new faces

In response to a suggestive comment asking who the man was, she responded with, “My best friends Ryan and Oliver, who are married to each other,” accompanied by a laughing emoji.

The actress saw the humor in the situation and joked, “Unfortunately, I’m not their type.”

In the caption, Helen continued: ‘Puglia with my amazing friends. Thank you @yvette_robinson_ for such an amazing trip and my best friends, husbands – @ryspeaks and @oliverthorntonhome for being amazing and the best travel buddies a woman could wish for.’

The star looked stunning in her holiday snaps, with group photos showing her busty figure and wearing a black lace maxi dress.

In another photo with her girlfriend, the actress was seen wearing a leopard-print bikini and braiding her hair for a photo from a boat.

Helen’s Italian getaway comes shortly after she was first spotted filming scenes for season 14, after her TV husband Olly Rix was written out of the BBC show.

The actress, who played the role of nurse Trixie Franklin since the series began in 2012, transformed into a heroic midwife in the 1970s.

Call The Midwife season 14 will kick off with a festive special on Christmas Day and will air the full eight-episode series in January 2025.

She responded to a suggestive comment asking who the man was with, “My best friends Ryan and Oliver who are married to each other,” along with a laughing emoji

However, Helen was quick to deny the romance rumors and confirmed that the mystery fan was in fact just a friend who is married

The 40-year-old actress sparked speculation among fans online after sharing a series of photos from her latest vacation, featuring some new faces

The 13th season ended with Trixie choosing to go with her husband Matthew after he traveled to New York.

However, after it was reported that actor Olly Rix had been written out of the series, it appears that Trixie will return to Poplar in future episodes, but without her husband.

It was recently reported that Helen and Olly have ‘grown apart’ after seeking support from each other following their split.

It was revealed that Helen had split from her partner Jack Ashton in July 2023 after seven years together, while Olly split from his girlfriend Natasha Fagri around the same time.

In October, she was photographed leaving Olly’s house, sparking rumours of a growing connection between the two.

It was recently reported that Helen and Olly have ‘grown apart’ after leaning on each other for support following their split from their partners (pictured in character)

Olly split from Natasha in July after seven years together, after they reportedly drifted apart due to work commitments (pictured together)

Meanwhile, Helen split from her partner Jack Ashton the same month, after they first met seven years earlier on the set of Call The Midwife (pictured together in 2022)

Now it appears that Olly has unfollowed Helen on Instagram, even though she still follows him.

A source said The sun on Sunday: ‘They were there for each other after their breakup.

‘But it seems they are no longer close and they have made that clear by removing each other from social media.

Olly even went one step further and deleted a photo of him and Helen from Instagram.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Helen George and Olly Rix for comment.