Strictly pro Vito's wild love life - Helen Skelton rumours to co-star affair
Strictly Come Dancing's Vito Coppola joined the BBC show in 2022, but he was previously on the Italian version - where he struck up a romance with his co-star.
The decorated dancer, 31, born in Naples, is currently sending fans into a frenzy with "my baby" Coronation Street star, Ellie Leach, 22, as the pair look to waltz off with the Glitterball trophy in December.
Vito has also been linked to Countryfile host Helen Skelton, who he apparently "bonded" with on the Strictly tour bus last year amid reports the couple looked 'cosy' together.
He is yet to confirm or deny he is in a relationship with Ellie, but fans are convinced they are dating. So, as we wait to watch their undeniable chemistry on the live show tonight, here's the lowdown on the Italian's love life....
Vito Coppola reportedly 'bonded' with Helen Skelton on the Strictly tour bus
The dancer dated Arisa after they appeared on the Italian version of Strictly together'Bonding' with Helen Skelton
As the Mirror exclusively revealed, mum-of-three Helen and Vito “bonded” after spending time together on the Strictly show tour bus as they travelled between UK cities.
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Helen found herself suddenly single last year after her husband Richie Myler ended their seven year marriage shortly after the arrival of their third child, Elsie.
Speaking about the Blue Peter star's 'fondness' for Vito, a source told us: “Helen and Vito were good friends during Strictly, but really bonded on tour. There were two buses for the cast – the party bus and the quiet bus. They spent a lot of time chatting on the quiet bus and getting to know each other. They have a lot in common – a love of the outdoors, for example.
“Between shows they also spent time together one-on-one, like going for coffee, just the two of them. “Then, if the whole group went for dinner, they would sit together, deep in conversation.”
However, it seems the pair wanted to keep their closeness under wraps as the source added: “If anyone pulled out a phone and started filming, Helen would move away from Vito. She didn’t want to be captured in the background.”
Helen stayed tight-lipped about the rumours, telling her Radio 5 colleague to "put the papers down, thank you" after he spotted The Mirror's front page story about the pair.
However, while Helen was said to have enjoyed striking up a new bond, it wasn't Vito’s first rodeo when it comes to falling victim to the so-called Strictly curse, as he also struck up a relationship on the Italian dance competition series, Ballando con le Stelle...
Affair with his Strictly co-star
Back in 2021, Vito was said to have grown close to his celebrity dance partner Arisa - an Italian singer, born Rosalba Pippa. The pair finally confirmed they were dating after the show ended and were together for a year. However, according to recent reports in Italy, they split after facing a “rocky patch”.
Vito confirmed their breakup - which was said to be on “good terms” - to a local outlet. He said: “We have remained on good terms, but ours is only a friendly one. We are not a couple, we are not talking about coexistence: today we are not together.”
Arisa also seemed to allude to her breakup with the dancer before the release of her single Tu Mi Perdición in 2022. She said beneath a post on Instagram: “My heart went through a very hard time for the first time in my life, I shed many tears and fought with the obsession of an idea that stole my smile for months. A circular thought, made up of sleepless nights, as if I had a strange fever that took away my hunger and desire for anything.
"I'm better now. I understood that I had never felt true love before and I discovered that I was able to give so much. I don't care about the outcome. I'm proud of myself and would do it again a thousand times,” she concluded.
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It wasn't the first time Arisa has spoken so candidly of her now-ended relationship with Vito. In a previous interview with Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, she said she was still 'in love' with him, although did not mention his name. "I'm in love," she declared. "But that's the problem, that we're not together. And not being together at a distance is very difficult. He wants to lead his life and would like me to be there without being intrusive. But I'm not one for strategies, the one who doesn't text you or lets it ring empty...Life is short."
Strictly stars Ellie and Vito have been surrounded by rumours of a romance ever since the show started. (BBC)Sizzling chemistry with his 'baby' Ellie Leach
Strictly stars Ellie and Vito have been surrounded by rumours of a romance ever since the show started.
The former Coronation Street actress and Italian champion are among the favourites to lift the Glitterball trophy thanks to their sizzling chemistry and fancy footwork. Viewers are convinced they're an item, especially after Sherlock star, Amanda Abbington, who left the show last month, sent fans into a frenzy when she referred to the pair as a "beautiful couple" at the weekend.
Then there's the fact Vito referred to Ellie as "my baby" in a gushing Instagram post after he planted two huge kisses on her cheek when they made it through to the next round of the competition on Sunday.
Ellie, who reportedly split with her ex in May amid rumours of cheating, is said to be smitten with Vito, who she admitted to Closer magazine was now "part of her family" and loves her mum's cooking...
*Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One at 6.40pm on Saturday
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