Another year, another romance on Strictly Come Dancing.
The 2023 Strictly Come Dancing series has been a roller coaster ride, with Amanda Abbington shockingly quitting early, viewers believing Bobby Brazier attempted to kiss Dianne Buswell after their hot dance, and widespread speculation a new partnership had formed.
Strictly pro Vito Coppola, 31, and former Coronation Street star Ellie Leach, 22, have always had real chemistry on the dance floor, but there have been suggestions that their relationship has evolved into something more.
This looked to be verified by Sherlock star Amanda, who described them as the most ‘beautiful pair’ in a social media comment.
Vito has now branded Ellie his ‘baby’ in a very flirty online post, giving the greatest sign yet that he and Ellie are in the thick of a romance.
He posted a black-and-white photo of himself on Instagram, his arm flung back over his head, reclining back on a couch, wearing a white vest, and peering down into the camera.
Alongside the brooding snap, he wrote: ‘Just finished another day of rehearsal … well done to my baby @ellielouiseleach.’
If the rumour mill wasn’t already whirring, it was absolutely buzzing after that post – and on Thursday morning Vito sent things even further with a cuddly video with Ellie ahead of rehearsals.
The selfie-style video saw the pair pressed close together to get into the camera, Ellie grinning like mad as Vito kept an arm around her shoulders.
He teased her about her own Instagram story where she dipped her croissant into her coffee on his advice, saying ‘you make me really proud.’
Vito then appeared to poke fun at the relationship reports, telling Ellie, “It’s time to do a good rumour.”
‘If you want to make me even more proud, I want a good standing leg, pointing the toes. Push from the standing leg.’
As he spoke, he kept zooming in on Ellie’s face until her teeth filled the screen, at which point the couple burst out laughing.
For days, allegations have swirled about the pair’s connection – even sharing a kiss on live TV – and on Monday, Ellie tweeted a photo of them staring into one other’s eyes during one of their performances.
She captioned the post: ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you. What a magical night, we are so grateful for all of your support and we’re soooo happy to be through to another week on that Strictly dancefloor.’
Many fans and fellow contestants responded with messages of encouragement, including Amanda, who may have unwittingly indicated the duo are more than pals.
‘Stunning. So proud of the both of you. You are the most beautiful couple!,’ she wrote alongside a series of love hearts.
Last week Vito, who is Italian, marked his first year of living in the UK with a heartfelt video in which he referred to the actress as ‘My Lulú’ and said he never expected to ‘feel so loved’.
In it, he addressed her and said: ‘I am so proud of you and you know how much I believe in you.’
‘Just keep working hard as you are already doing every day. You are doing great baby. Have a good rest tonight and make sure you eat properly. See you tomorrow for another beautiful day together.
Strictly Come Dancing returns Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One
