He’s got the moves, the muscles and he can cook, but for Strictly Come Dancing champion Vito Coppola , love is off the menu. The Italian dancer – who won the Glitterball Trophy with his celebrity partner Ellie Leach last year – has revealed that despite speculation of a simmering romance between him and the Coronation Street star, he remains footloose and fancy free as he waits to find out who his new star dance partner will be. The show is gearing up for it's 20th anniversary, without professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, who Vito has 'grown up with'.
The show has been mired in controversy ever since Amanda Abbington accused her dance partner Giovanni Pernice of “unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean” behaviour, which he denies. Then, to add fuel to the fire, Vito’s friend Graziano Di Prima was axed for “gross misconduct” after an alleged incident with Zara McDermott , his 2023 celebrity partner. Graziano apologised but later said, “I didn’t deliberately hurt anyone.
I am not a monster. I am not an abusive man,” adding that his mental health had been affected and he’d been plagued by “ugly thoughts”. Vito grew up competing alongside Graziano in Italian dance competitions, and they became as close as brothers.
The scandal has put Vito in a difficult position, but he insists he won’t turn his back on his friend. “I love Graziano,” says Vito. “I’ve known him since years ago, when we were competing.
I love him and I wil.