Strictly Come Dancing stars Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola have opened up about the special bond they have formed during this series, with the actress describing how she knew she could trust her professional partner from the moment they met.
Turner, who played Stacey Slater in EastEnders for more than two decades, said the pair share similar energy levels and a sense of humour, and that they often laugh to the point of tears. "As soon as I met him, I knew I could trust him and we'd have the best time," she said. "Sometimes, we laugh and cry at the same time."
A Friendship for Life
Coppola, 34, from Eboli in southern Italy, said that once he bonds with someone, they remain in his life forever. He added that he adores not just Turner but her whole family, describing her mother as "a total queen" and praising her relationship with husband Matt Kay.
Turner, 38, shares daughters Dusty, seven, Trilby, five, and Gipsy, 22 months, with Kay, who she has been married to for nine years. She joked in response to Coppola's comments: "Be careful what you wish for!"
Ignoring the Pressure and Rumours
When asked about the so-called 'Strictly curse', Turner said she and Kay did not discuss the potential pitfalls before she signed up, even in a jokey way. She noted that acting involves spending months intensely with people while pretending to be in love, but that in dancing "you're just dancing, you're acting."
Coppola said he pays no attention to outside noise, including romance rumours that surrounded him and his 2023 partner Ellie Leach. "I'm very much in my own world," he said. "I don't really listen to what's being said outside, so I don't get affected by it."
Food Disagreements and Family Support
The pair do not agree on food, with Coppola, who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2024, expressing disbelief at Turner's eating habits. "Lacey won't eat vegetables or salad, but she eats crisp sandwiches. What is that?" he said.
Turner said her family are proud of her Strictly appearance, and that Kay has compared watching her dance to seeing his favourite football team Tottenham Hotspur in action. She also receives feedback from her eldest daughter and her sisters via a WhatsApp group.
New Hosts and Life After EastEnders
Turner has joined the show during a major shake-up, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe taking over as hosts from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. She dismissed criticism of the new line-up, saying: "Change is not a bad thing, but we're British, aren't we? We're grumpy."
The actress left EastEnders last October after first appearing on the soap in 2004. She said she spent more than half her life there and misses the people every day, but added: "It's actually very lovely to just have time for me, to be with my family at home, potter around in my Crocs and be a viewer."
Turner and Coppola are now the bookies' favourites to win the Glitterball Trophy after several strong performances, including a rumba in week seven. Turner said she is not focusing on winning, stating: "We just want to enjoy every moment while we still can."
