Strictly Come Dancing stars Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola share heartwarming reunion in Manchester

Virgin Radio

8 Jul 2024, 14:38

The dynamic dancing duo spent quality time with Ellie’s family, sparking more Strictly romance rumours.

Strictly Come Dancing's glittering champions, Vito Coppola and Ellie Leach, have waltzed their way into our hearts once again with a heartwarming reunion in Manchester!

The professional dancer and his Coronation Street star partner, who he affectionately dubs Lulú (short for Louise), shared their joyful day out with Ellie's family on Instagram, leaving fans swooning and speculating.

Vito, clearly delighted to reunite with Ellie, posted a series of snaps capturing their lovely Sunday.

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"About last Sunday in Manchester," he captioned the Instagram carousel, adding, 'Lovely day.'

And lovely it was, as the pair radiated happiness in every photo. The Strictly stars enjoyed a meal and a glass of wine, had brunch with Ellie’s younger sister Daisy, and even posed for a cosy family picture.

Fans were quick to comment on Vito's post, with one follower noting: "So lovely that you have your English 'family'."

It seems Vito is not just winning dance trophies but also hearts in Ellie's hometown.

Ever since they twirled to victory on the Strictly dance floor, Ellie and Vito's close friendship has been the subject of intense speculation.

Are they more than just dance partners? The rumour mill has been in overdrive! Earlier this year, Ellie addressed the whispers about their relationship when a fan wondered why Vito hadn't appeared in one of her posts.

"Love this man dearly," Ellie declared on her Instagram Stories, sharing a sweet picture of Vito.

She continued: "Men and women can be friends and can love each other AS FRIENDS… just saying x @vitocoppola you have the cutest face." Well, that’s one way to samba around the subject!

The fabulous pair dazzled the Strictly audience last year, taking home the coveted Glitter Ball trophy after a nail-biting final against Layton Williams and Bobby Brazier.

Their chemistry on the dance floor was undeniable, making their victory all the more spectacular.

Ellie, clearly nostalgic, has been reflecting on their Strictly journey. She’s been binge-watching clips of their performances and shared some emotional moments with her fans.

“I spend my days watching these edits. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry. It’s great entertainment," she confessed on her Instagram Stories.

But it’s not all laughter for Ellie. She revealed a particularly poignant moment from their showdance routine to a Jennifer Lopez Megamix, where the final lift didn’t quite go as planned.

“I was so mad with myself that the ending didn’t go to plan and so I just didn’t want to watch it,” she admitted.

But time heals all wounds, and Ellie now feels a sense of pride about their performance.

“This clip makes me feel really proud of what we did, the bond that we built and the trust we have in each other. Although it didn’t go to plan on the night, I’m so proud that we continued to take risks every week," she wrote.

Strictly Come Dancing will return later this year on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.