Strictly Come Dancing professional Vito Coppola has revealed the one thing he refuses to share with his celebrity dance partners: food. Despite forming close bonds with them, the 38-year-old Italian dancer maintains a firm boundary when it comes to his plate.
Coppola, who won the Glitterball Trophy with Ellie Leach in 2023, spoke about his passion for food in his new autobiography, Love, Vito, explaining that eating is central to both his personal and family life. He told heat: "I love food, as if food is a person. Food is my best friend, it's part of my family."
The dancer said food features in virtually every aspect of his life, whether celebrating or seeking a boost after a difficult day. He described it as a key way of bringing loved ones together, saying: "Food is the only essential glue that connects all my family with friends and other people. All the people who are very close to me like Fleur, Ellie and Ellie - they all love their food."
A rule from the start
However, Coppola has maintained one boundary with his Strictly colleagues. He said: "We had the rule when we were starting to dance together - we share everything, but not the food. I love them to the moon and back, but my food is my food. I don't share!"
While he guards his own plate, Coppola has become known for showing affection for the Strictly team through cooking. He told heat that preparing food for others has been his way of expressing gratitude throughout the series. He has taken homemade dishes into the studio for people working across production, including runners, lighting, sound, wardrobe, hair and make-up.
His culinary generosity extended to the singers, who requested pasta with tomato sauce, while Coppola also prepared tiramisu for members of the team. The dancer, who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2024, went all-out for presenter Claudia Winkleman, preparing her a large aubergine Parmigiana made up of 12 layers.
Chocolate signals with Claudia
Coppola said: "All my family was like, 'What are you doing?' They thought I would have baked her a little muffin or cupcake." Winkleman apparently had her own way of returning the favour, secretly passing Coppola chocolate pretzels during filming. The pair developed signals so she could discreetly hand him the treats. He said: "I cannot last the entire series without having a little piece of chocolate every now and then."
Coppola began dancing at age six, taught by his father, and went on to compete in Latin American competitions before progressing to European and international championships. He has now been part of Strictly for four years and remains positive about the show's future, despite recent changes and controversies.
Speaking to PA, he said: "Of course, I cannot predict the future but it's something that happened to me in the perfect moment of my life and I feel like I'm in the right place now in this moment of my life." He is also preparing to tour with fellow professional Dianne Buswell in spring 2027 with their new show, Back In Business.
"Whatever comes, I'm grateful and happy to take it in," Coppola said. "But I also want to live in the present because sometimes when we think too much in the future, we miss the now." Love, Vito by Vito Coppola is published by Sphere on August 27, priced £25.
