Strictly’s Ellie Leach breaks silence on Vito Coppola romance rumours after kiss

‘Strictly Come Dancing’ star Ellie Leach has broken her silence on romance rumours with her professional partner Vito Coppola after a double kiss.

The former ‘Coronation Street’ star, 22, and the 30-year-old Italian hunk sparked speculation they were more than just dance partners after their passionate pasodoble to Faithless’ ‘Insomnia’ in week five.

Vito placed his hands on Ellie’s cheek and leaned down to kiss her not once, but twice.

However, the former soap star insists Vito always gives her a kiss on the cheek and insists they are not a couple.

She told OK! magazine: “It was just a kiss on the cheek. He kisses me on the cheek every Saturday!”

“It was definitely on the cheek.”

Ellie hopes the pair will remain good friends after the series ends.

She added: “We get on really, really well and we have a beautiful friendship.

“I hope we can continue on this path.

“We have a very good relationship and we both know what the other needs. Vito even lets me take naps during training.”

Ellie split from her boyfriend in May after he cheated on her, and she previously admitted she was looking forward to putting her energy into ‘Strictly’ as she tries to regain her confidence.

She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Confidence is something I’ve always struggled with.

“As an actor, people don’t see that – they think you’re this confident person and you can do anything.

“I hope ‘Strictly’ will give me that, push me and make me realise that I am capable of certain things.”

And she thanked Vito for helping her focus on the positives.

She explains: “Vito has already taught me a lot. He tells me: ‘It’s a competition with yourself. If you’re tired, fight it, if you’re stressed, fight it.’

“I don’t congratulate myself enough either, I only focus on the mistakes. But then he says to me: ‘Yeah, but you just did that…'”

And Ellie – best known for playing Faye Windass on the cobbles – has revealed how Vito and the show helped her gain body confidence.

She told The Sun newspaper: “Vito always has snacks for me to eat so we do eat.

“But I think on the physical activity side, I can definitely see the impact it has.

“The fact that I danced live on television in front of millions of people is crazy to me.

“I think it gives you a little bit of confidence to say, ‘Oh, like I did that and like that’s me.'”