BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Ellie Leach proves friendship with Vito Coppola after hitting back

Ellie Leach has proved her friendship with Vito Coppola is as strong as ever despite time apart after finishing their Strictly Come Dancing journey earlier this year. The actress and the Italian dancer emerged victorious in the BBC One dance contest last year.

Ellie and Vito were crowned winners and lifted the coveted Glitterball trophy during the Strictly final in December - making Ellie the competition's youngest-ever winner at 22.

And after going their separate ways for Christmas and New Year, with Vito heading back to Italy where he documented working back on his family's farm, the pair were eventually reunited earlier this year for the Strictly Come Dancing Live 2024 tour.

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But after touring the country for three weeks, performing in 31 shows in nine different cities, there were emotional scenes when Ellie and Vito once again went their separate ways again with Ellie heading straight onto her next job, making her stage debut as Miss Scarlett in the play Cluedo 2 - The Next Chapter.

When she recently shared "a little round-up" of her life lately in pictures, Ellie was quickly defended from some comments she'd been receiving as she was quizzed about Vito's whereabouts.

Following the messages, Ellie has spoken out herself. Sharing a sweet black and white picture of Vito to her Instagram Story, the former soap star said: "Love this man dearly," adding a red love heart. She continued: "Men and women can be friends and can love each other AS FRIENDS... Just saying x."

She then added: "@vitocoppola you have the cutest face."