Italian-born Strictly Come Dancing star Vito Coppola has pulled back the curtain on the reality of life behind the glittering BBC show, exposing the "dangerous" true colours of one popular co-star. While professional dancers typically appear smooth and graceful on screen, Coppola reveals a chaotic undercurrent that sometimes leads to genuine risk.
Revealing the Real Personalities Behind Strictly
In a candid Q&A session on his YouTube channel, the former Strictly winner listed his favourite personalities from the show. Appearing on BBC's Saturday Kitchen, Coppola shared his admiration for various celebrities, including football legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's impressive hip movements during the Cha-cha-cha and YouTuber George Clarke's playful pranks during the recent Strictly tour.
The Celebrity MasterChef winner also expressed heartfelt praise for Karen Hauer, who recently announced her departure from the programme. Coppola affectionately calls the 43-year-old Venezuelan-American dancer "Mamacita" and describes dancing with her as consistently "amazing."
The 'Dangerous' Energy of Katya Jones
However, Coppola saved his most revealing comments for Russian-born professional Katya Jones. While expressing genuine adoration for his colleague, he admitted their combined energetic personalities create a potentially hazardous situation on the dance floor.
"I love Katya. She's full on… we have the same energy level. That's good on one side, on the other side it can be quite dangerous," Coppola explained. He detailed how their shared power and passion during performances has resulted in physical injuries that continue to affect him.
The dancer recalled a specific incident from his first year on Strictly: "My jaw still clicks here because I got a beautiful, amazing, very powerful Katya elbow in my jaw. I had like a good crack. It took me a few days to get back to normal and chew. But so, thank you Katya, I have now a gift forever!"
Recent Strictly Journey and Future Projects
Last year marked Coppola's fourth series on the popular programme, where he was partnered with model and actress Ellie Goldstein. Fans quickly dubbed them 'the Cheeky Team' and embraced their partnership before it concluded following the competition's annual Halloween special.
Their professional relationship has continued beyond the main show, with the pair recently completing the 30-date Strictly Come Dancing Live 2026 tour alongside numerous co-stars.
Away from the dance floor, Coppola has been teasing significant news, which he confirmed on Tuesday, March 3rd. The Italian star announced via Instagram that he's releasing his first book titled "Love, Vito" in August. The publication promises to share stories about his life through the lenses of dancing and food, accompanied by behind-the-scenes photoshoot clips.
Coppola's revelations provide a rare glimpse into the physical demands and interpersonal dynamics of one of Britain's most beloved entertainment programmes, highlighting how professional passion can sometimes cross into genuinely risky territory.
