Strictly Come Dancing winner Ellie Leach has voiced her support for Vito Coppola and his new dance partner, Lacey Turner, ahead of the new series.
Ellie, who lifted the glitterball trophy with Vito in 2023, spoke exclusively about the pairing after Strictly returned to the BBC with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe replacing Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Ellie's verdict on the new pairing
EastEnders actress Lacey Turner received a standing ovation for her first live performance, a cha-cha-cha to Whitney Houston's How Will I Know? with Vito. Ellie threw her support behind the pair, saying: "I'm so excited for them, I really am. He is just the dream, I'm so excited for Lacey, I know she's going to have the best time with him."
Ellie, speaking amid a collaboration with The Royal Mint as Miss Scarlett for the new Cluedo 50p, added: "I was so excited for all the pairings this year… everyone looks like they're going to suit each other so well dance-wise, so I think it's going to be an incredible series."
First live show anticipation
After the launch show, in which celebrities switched between pro dancers before their partners were announced, Ellie said: "Even though we've seen a bit more of them dancing, because it was a bit chaotic, I don't feel like we saw as much of everyone's potential. So going into the first live show, it is an even playing field, I don't know what people are going to be like, so I'm really excited to see what everyone's got their first dance and songs and stuff, and to be able to see them actually do a routine."
Friendship with Vito
Ellie also spoke of her friendship with Vito and how Strictly showed a new side to her after fans knew her as Faye Windass on Coronation Street for more than a decade. She said: "When you are used to seeing someone be one person for 13 years, it's hard to break that view. I loved being able to show people my personality and people got on board with me and Vito and they just saw that what you see is what you get. We had the most amazing time, and we had so much fun and built a massive friendship for life. So yeah, I was just really glad they could see that."
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday, October 3 from 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
