Strictly pro Vito Coppola was filled with passion and joy as he kissed celebrity partner Ellie Leach on live TV today, fueling speculations of a relationship.
On Saturday, the duo topped the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard for a second week with their show-stopping American Smooth, earning them a score of 39, the series’ equal best point thus far.
Vito, 31, appeared on Tuesday’s broadcast of the One Show, brimming with joy over his soap star partner’s performance during the weekend.
However, when host Lauren Laverne inquired for his reaction to the judges’ comments that he and Ellie, 22, were giving off ‘final vibes,’ he grew even more agitated – and ended up placing a kiss on her cheek after heaping her with compliments.
‘Honestly, we don’t really think about the final as a final – we want to live and enjoy every single week, [doing] baby steps, small but solid, and [if] it comes, it comes,’ the Italian dancer told Lauren and co-host Ronan Keating.
‘But otherwise, we are very happy [with] what we are doing. We are having our proper journey, like a rollercoaster, and it’s amazing.
‘I cannot describe with words how beautiful is this journey together [sic],’ he added.
Leaning over to kiss Ellie, he continued: ‘To have met this beautiful person, it’s amazing!’
‘Ah, you two, you two!’ responded Lauren, as Ellie laughed and called Vito ‘so cute’.
Viewers certainly noticed the moment between the duo two, with one tweeting alongside a blushing emoji: ‘Vito just kissed Ellie live on the One Show.’
‘LOVE Ellie and Vito,’ added someone else on the social media platform now known as X. ‘Such a natural, unaffected couple, no agenda, no back story rubbish, just a lovely, cheerful, bubbly couple!
‘Vito is doubly cute, such a sweetheart.’
It comes after previous competitor Amanda Abbington appeared to ‘confirm’ the two were dating.
The Sherlock actress, 51, quit the series last month for ‘personal reasons’ after competing for four weeks.
She does, however, look involved in her showmates’ experiences.
Ellie shared a post thanking fans for their votes on Instagram, saying that she and Vito were ‘soooo happy to be through to another week on that Strictly dancefloor’
Her tweet drew several offers of support from fans and fellow contestants alike, including Amanda, who may have accidentally suggested 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 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 Ellie 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.’
This Saturday, the duo will do a Rumba, which is recognised as one of the most difficult – and sexiest – dances in the Strictly repertory.
‘I’m not going to lie, the Rumba scares me,’ Ellie admitted to Lauren and Ronan. ‘I think because it’s the slowest of the dances and you really have to exaggerate very single movement, like there’s nowhere to hide at all!’
The One Show airs weeknights at 7pm on BBC One. Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6:05pm on BBC One.
