Strictly Come Dancing professional Vito Coppola has said the arrival of new hosts marks a “new chapter” for the show, as he prepares for the BBC programme’s return.
The 33-year-old Italian dancer, who won the Glitterball with actress Ellie Leach in 2023 after joining in 2022, described the upcoming series as “a beautiful period” and said he is “like an excited puppy”.
Excitement for the new series
Coppola revealed that rehearsals with the professionals began in July, and he praised the five new pros joining the show. “There are lots of exciting dances this year, and we have the five new pros who are so sweet,” he said.
He added: “I said, ‘Guys, don’t worry, come under my wing, I’m always going to give you the best advice.’ They’re all quite young. Lots of new people coming in, and we’re all very excited.”
Coppola said he already knew one of the new pros, Cristian Priori, from their competitive dancing days. “We used to dance together in competitions during our teens and early twenties,” he explained, adding that it was “really nice to see him again”.
Thoughts on the hosting shake-up
Asked about former hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, Coppola said he has not spoken to them since the last series but will miss them. “I used to give a little wink to Claudia in between takes and I was like, ‘Can you pass me a little snack or something?’ So now, I need to find my new snack buddy,” he said.
On new hosts Johannes Radebe and Emma Willis, Coppola said: “With these new hosts, we are opening up a new chapter.” He told Radebe he “cannot wait to see you shine as you are and also I cannot wait to see all your beautiful outfits,” and described Willis as “a pure joy, a ray of sunshine”.
He also mentioned sharing a laugh with Josh Widdicombe, telling him the last time he saw him was “dressed as a penguin during the Christmas special”.
Changes to the pairing process
This year, celebrities discovered their professional partners during the launch show, a change from previous years when they found out days before. Coppola said the new format is “exciting” because “you actually don’t know who could be your partner – so we discovered it together!”
Outside dancing, Coppola, who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2024, said he is now working with Italian cake brand Balconi, which he ate at home as a child. “It’s really come full-circle,” he said.
He also spoke about his past struggles with food and body image, saying his mother helped him through it. “There is no light without dark, so I’m grateful for these moments because I appreciate my life today more,” he said.
Looking to the future, Coppola said his goal is “to make people around me feel loved and happy”, and he hopes to take his younger brother Jonathan on a safari. “I’m grateful for the life I have. I’m a happy person, so I don’t need anything more,” he said.
