09 March 2024 , 15:39
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Strictly star Vito Coppola will be joined by a Dancing on Ice legend on Celebrity MasterChef, as more big names are confirmed for the BBC reality cookery competition.
I'm A Celeb contestant Jake Quickenden, 35, has signed up for Masterchef, alongside Glow Up judge Dominic Skinner. They join pro dancer Vito, 31, who won Strictly with Ellie Leach, 22, at the end of 2023 - and he's not the first Strictly star to take part, with Diane Buswell, Katya Jones and Johannes Radebe taking to the kitchen previously.
BBC bosses were hoping that Jake would be up for the show, with a source telling The Sun: "Jake's very popular with viewers, as proved by his success in the jungle and on Dancing On Ice, so bosses were chuffed when he agreed to do it. He's shared a few cooking vlogs on his social media, so he might surprise people with his talents.
I'm A Celeb's Jake Quickenden has reportedly signed up for Celebrity Masterchef (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)"As for Dominic, he's a hilarious, larger-than-life personality and will make great entertaining TV. " After Vito signed up to the show last week, reports emerged claiming producers were "desperate" to get him on, with the dancing veteran "flattered".
Speaking to The Sun, a source said: "Bosses were desperate to sign up Vito - his popularity with audiences is obvious after he won Strictly with [Ellie]. He's funny and charming, and it doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eye too."
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They added ahead of the show's anticipated return: "As for Vito, he was flattered to be asked as he has only been on Strictly for a couple of years so this is a big deal for him and introduces him to an even wider audience."
Vito won Strictly 2023 with Ellie Leach (BBC)Other celebrities reported to be taking part include This Morning presenter Craig Doyle and The One Show host Christine Lampard, as well as The Traitors star Diane Carson. Also set to join the line-up are Line of Duty star Rochenda Sandall, radio presenter Edith Bowman, reality TV's Charlotte Crosby and Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, known as 'Nitro'.
Meanwhile, Vito's much-scrutinised love life got tongues wagging once again last month, after he declared his love for a mystery brunette woman. The Strictly star was rumoured to be involved with his partner Ellie Leach, but they were shut down after Ellie started a relationship with Bobby Brazier instead.
But Vito got fans excited to see if he's found love when he took to Instagram in February to share a cute snap of him with a woman named Julia, while he shared a gushing birthday message for her.
Writing in Italian, Vito wrote: "Happy birthday puppy. Get your passport and I’ll wait for you in London." Writing in English, he added: "Love you" with a red heart emoji. Tagging the lady in the photo, it leads to a private Instagram account for Julia Manna, but no more is currently known about her.