BBC Strictly Come Dancing champion 'confirmed' as legend spots tell-tale signs

28 November 2023 , 17:33

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BBC Strictly Come Dancing champion 'confirmed' as legend spots tell-tale signs

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Brendan Cole has revealed that Ellie Leach and her professional dance partner Vito Coppola have a strong chance of winning the BBC dance show.

Ellie, 22 and Vito left viewers and judges gobsmacked when they recently performed the Argentine Tango. And while the 47-year-old dancer has not placed the former Coronation Street star as a front-runner until that moment, he believes the vital sign of her winning was her attention to detail. And on the back of that, he has sensationally claimed that she has now become his favourite to hold the glitterball trophy.

Brendan Cole believes Ellie Leach will win Strictly Come Dancing

Brendan Cole left the BBC show in 2017 (Daily Mirror)

When asked by Sky Bingo who he thought could win the ballroom dance competition, he replied saying: "Ellie [Leech] and Vito [Coppola]. It was a really good Argentine Tango. It had really great choreography and her attention to detail was really really good. Nothing was left untweaked and untouched which I really loved. It showed they had really committed to it and had done a solid week of work to make it look as good as it can."

He added: "The fact that she was able to step out and perform it like she did is quite something. I haven't really rated her so far, so it's the first time I saw her and thought she could be the winner if she continues on in that vein. I feel like the show has wanted them to win for quite a few weeks now, but it's the first time I saw that she actually could do it on her own merit."

But Brendan, who was axed from the show in 2017 after his contract was not renewed, admitted that he was unsure who would be crowned winner before Ellie's Tango. He was left in a quandary between Leyton Williams, Nigel Harman and Ellie. Speaking about his initial indecision, he said: "I’ve always thought Leyton [Williams] was going to make it to the final because in a dance-off situation unless he messes up completely, he’s always going to win over somebody else. Unless, like Shirley [Ballas] pointed out, that wasn’t the kind of dance they were supposed to do, for example, if they are given a Waltz and they do the Foxtrot."

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He believes Ellie Leach has what it takes (PA)

He added: "I would have thought it’s going to be between Ellie [Leech] and Nigel [Harman] [in the final 2], even though there is something slightly awkward about what Nigel does with his feet and legs. He’s a great performer and he’s lovely to watch. He’s also got an amazing partner in Katya [Jones] because she is second to none, she’s brilliant." Brendan has been known for his harsh criticisms since the competition started but he was keen to add that he was pleased Ellie's partner Vito finally performed a dance - without looking sexy with his chest out.

He added to Sky Bingo: "I didn't agree as such because I don't think every number needs passion. Every Rumba, for example, doesn't need to be two people trying to ‘get it on’. You can have a dance which is emotional, powerful, connected, sensual and there are so many different ways you can put a dance on. If you are dancing with somebody three times your age, you do not want to do a sexy Rumba."

He continued: "You don’t want to do a sexy Argentine Tango, you want to do something that’s classy and classic and is about an energy between two people, so you wouldn't necessarily want romantic passion. I think the fact that Ellie and Vito’s dance didn’t have that real raw passion was actually quite nice. It was quite beautiful to watch. He’s had his torso out for the entire duration of Strictly this year, so it was nice to see him covered up and doing a proper dance."

Lucretia Munro