It's no secret that the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom is a hotspot for romance, with dozens of contestants finding love over the years on the BBC One show.
Celebrities grow extremely close to their professional dance partners every series, with them spending everyday training together and continuing to bond off the dance floor.
This year's series has seen some special friendships form, especially between finalists Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola, who have been at the centre of romance rumours since Strictly kicked off in September due to their undeniable chemistry.
Ex-Coronation Street star Ellie, 22, and professional dancer Vito, 31, have formed a very close bond on Strictly and their closeness has not gone unnoticed by fans.
Vito, who joined Strictly in 2022, is very affectionate towards Ellie during the Strictly live shows, which has added fuel to the romance rumours, and they continue to gush over one another in interviews.
The pair even took part in their first joint photoshoot with OK! in November, and couldn't help but smile as they joked around together. Actress Ellie, who played Faye Windass in Coronation Street for over a decade, was filled with praise for Vito, and continued to sing his praises throughout the interview.
“Every day we have so much fun and I go home and I’m like, ‘Oh my cheeks!’," Ellie told us, laughing. “We’re just having such a good time. It’s a rollercoaster, but everything is just amazing. Everything is 100% heightened.”
The actress attempted to play down Vito's affections on the BBC One show, as fans were left stunned after the pair appeared to 'kiss' at the end of a dance routine in front of the live audience.
Blushing, Ellie said: “It was only a kiss on the cheek. He gives me a kiss on the cheek every Saturday! It was definitely on the cheek.”
Despite Ellie's denials, it was reported in November that she and Vito are in a relationship and it isn't a 'showmance', despite what some may think. A pal of the ex-soap star revealed Ellie and Vito were just friends initially, but as time went on things changed, as reported by the Mirror.
Ellie's pal said: "Initially, they were friendly but as the weeks went on, their relationship changed. Ellie has made it clear to friends how happy she is with Vito."
They added: "She's not the kind of person to fake something like that for votes. Putting on a showmance isn't her style what you see with her is what you get. When Ellie started Strictly, she was self-conscious and unsure. Now she's radiating confidence, which is lovely."
Vito, who calls Ellie 'Lulù', has also been heard saying some flirty things to Ellie on Strictly, including telling her to "eat me with your eyes" after a steamy Argentine Tango routine.
Their co-stars never seem phased by their closeness, with a source claiming that it's "widely understood" that Ellie and Vito are more than friends on Strictly, but it is never discussed.
A second source said: "Ellie and Vito have become so close that they're often seen all over each other, and the chemistry is striking. The rumour they're more than friends isn't openly discussed, but it's widely understood."
Neither Ellie nor Vito have directly denied the romance claims, with Ellie simply brushing off the rumours when they are hinted at or mentioned. During a chat on It Takes Two, she simply said: "There's always speculation. Honestly, we're just so busy dancing."
However, it seems their relationship is special not matter if it's romantic or platonic. Ellie told OK! she has a "lovely" bond with Vito which she hopes continues after the BBC One show draws to a close.
“We really, really get along and we have a lovely friendship,” she told us. “I hope we can continue that. We’ve got a really good relationship where we kind of know what the other needs."
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