Ellie Leach's new Strictly partner leaves Vito Coppola feeling 'jealous'

07 December 2023 , 23:35

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The pair are continuing to impress the judges and viewers at home (Image: PA)

Strictly Come Dancing's Vito Coppola has confessed to being jealous after partner Ellie Leach danced with another person on last week's episode.

The talented duo sailed into the Semi-Finals after scoring 36 with their quickstep on Saturday night, which was performed to Beauty and the Beast's Belle in honour of Musicals Week. The show was also the first time that Ellie, who is best known for playing Faye Windass on Coronation Street, danced with another partner on the ITV reality series. The 22-year-old has now opened up about the experience on Strictly: It Takes Two, admitting that it was "amazing."

"Let's quickly take you back to last Saturday and that quickstep, as an actor you must have felt in your element performing in a musical week!" host Janette Manrara asked, to which Ellie responded: "Yeah I absolutely loved it and it was so much fun and it really did feel like a full performance, I felt like I was in a musical and it was amazing." Janette then pressed the soap star for more details, questioning if was "strange" or "difficult" to be dancing with another person.

Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola dancing in Musicals Week (PA)

Vito admitted he was jealous that Ellie danced briefly with another partner during the routine (PA)

Ellie exchanged a cheeky look with mentor Vito, 31, who quipped: "Come on come on, tell her, you enjoyed it a lot, I saw." She then explained: "It was a bit scary at first because honestly, I am so used to dancing with Vito and being in that hold with him. So to dance with somebody else was a little bit scary but I really enjoyed it and the extra dancers are amazing. So I felt great dancing with someone else, not as great as I feel dancing with you though," she reassured him before Vito responded: "Thank you...You know how to make it sweet."

Janette said: "Clearly you were jealous of her dancing with someone else then. Vito laughed, replying, "I mean, she was enjoying so much, I was like 'Ok, ok, ok stop!' But it was amazing."

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Ellie and Vito will be dancing the Cha Cha Cha to Bette Midler's Mambo Italiano', and a Couples' Choice dance to a Dua Lipa medley that the Italian choreographer has promised will be 'full-on'. The Corrie star revealed she's excited for the modern performance, adding, "I am Dua Lipa fan, I think she is a really great role model for young women, she's really strong and independent." Vito also told Janette that eight hours of dance rehearsals is the minimum amount they are putting in right now as they compete for a place in the Final and come one step closer to bagging that coveted Glitterball Trophy.

Emma Dooney