Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has publicly praised professional dancer Vito Coppola for a heartfelt social media post, as reports of a major shake-up to the BBC show continue to circulate.
Vito, who joined the programme in 2022, shared a lengthy message on Instagram reflecting on love and gratitude. He wrote: 'Sometimes I stop for a moment, in silence, and think about how generous life has been to me. I’m not talking about achievements or dreams fulfilled, but about something much simpler and infinitely more precious: Love.'
Shirley responded to the post with a comment reading: '@vitocoppola beautiful message' followed by heart emojis. Former Love Island star Chyna Mills, fiancée of Strictly pro Neil Jones, also replied with heart emojis.
The exchange comes amid speculation of a professional dancer 'cull' ahead of the 2026 series, though the BBC has not confirmed any changes, stating: 'Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.'
Meanwhile, a confirmed shake-up to the hosting line-up will see Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman step down after the 2025 series. Their final show, which crowned Karen Carney and Carlos Gu as champions, received a standing ovation and tributes from fans and the Queen.
