Vito Coppola happy to be 'big brother' for new Strictly pros
Vito Coppola will be returning this year in an another attempt to take home the Mirrorball Trophy alongside a celebrity partner - who has yet to be revealed.
Strictly Come Dancing’s Vito Coppola is happily taking on the “big brother” role for the show’s new professional dancers.
The 33-year-old Italian joined the BBC programme back in 2022, and will be returning this year in an another attempt to take home the Mirrorball Trophy alongside a celebrity partner - who has yet to be revealed.
He will be joined by a host of new pro dancers, including Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Mark Karmalita and Maddie Ingoldsby, and told the Daily Mail he’s trying to be a support to the latest additions to the cast.
He said: “They are settling in beautifully, beautifully. They are nice, they are very respectful and polite and gentle and kind and honest, and I'm taking them on as a big brother. I'm taking them under my wings.”
Vito added that the only one of the new cohort he knew before Strictly was “the Italian guy” - Cristian.
He continued: “We used to compete together, so we know each other, but all the others I just said like ‘Guys, whatever you need, whenever, just call me, even at 3am’.”
He also said that being from Italy himself, he remembers what it’s like to be somewhere new - especially when you’re not originally from the country.
Vito said: “With these five new pros, I just feel like they are my new brothers and sisters. So I love to take care of them and to look after them.
“Of course, I mean, not because they necessarily need it, but I make sure that they know that if they need me, I am there.
“And also because I remember when I came here. When I came here, I thought, I don't know if people in the UK [would like me] you know, it's a different culture.
‘Maybe they find me too much because I'm quite, you know, active and quite an excited puppy!”
It remains to be seen who Vito will be paired with for this year’s competition.
However, the celebrities who have signed up for the show include Dani Dyer, who is returning after an injury meant she had to pull out of the 2025 competition.
Actresses Lacey Turner, from EastEnders, and Gavin And Stacey’s Melanie Walters are also among the famous faces hoping for dancefloor success.
