
Strictly Come Dancing star Vito Coppola goes Instagram official with his new girlfriend Valentina Sica during romantic getaway together
The Strictly Come Dancing pro, 32, took to his Story to repost a selfie with the raven-haired beauty on a romantic getaway in Leicester ahead of rehearsals.
In the sweet snap, the dancer donned a baby blue lemon print sweatshirt and co-coordinating white lemon print shorts as he pulled a cheeky pose alongside his love.
Meanwhile, his girlfriend Valentina, who is a personal brand strategist, flaunted her toned midriff in a burnt orange crop top.
She teamed a pair of white trousers with her ensemble as she struck a sultry pose for the camera.
The beauty often shares stunning bikini-clad snaps with her 4,819 Instagram followers.
Before he was linked to Valentina, MailOnline revealed Vito and fellow Strictly dancer Jowita Przystal, 30, had grown closer.
According to The Sun, fans also took to Reddit to share a 'clue' that the pair were dating.
They shared a screenshot from Jowita's Instagram Story, in which she had posted an Italy fact.
The fact read: 'Study shows that eating Tiramisu in Italy scientifically makes you happier.'
During last year's Strictly series, Vito was partnered up with Miranda star Sarah Hadland, 54.
The pair came runners-up to comedian Chris McCausland, 48, and pro Dianne Buswell, 36.
As well as Jowita, fan favourite Vito was also previously linked to Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach, 24.
The pair sparked romance rumours in 2023 after they cosied up in a video and 'gazed into each other's eyes'.
Late last year, Vito publicly shared his love and support for Graziano Di Prima five months after the dancer was sacked over abuse allegations.
In July 2024, Graziano was axed from the BBC show over reports he 'hit and kicked' his former partner Zara McDermott, 28, during rehearsals last year.
While his fellow Strictly professionals had not commented on the allegations, Vito publicly declared his support as he shared a snap of the pair catching up over coffee.
Earlier this year, MailOnline revealed that Strictly Come Dancing bosses had found a replacement for Giovanni Pernice - and it's another Italian hunk.
Simone Arena, 33, is reportedly joining the dance competition's line-up of dance professionals who are paired with the celebrity contestants.
He is already familiar to his new colleagues as he is the boyfriend of Michelle Tsiakkis, 29, a Strictly pro dancer who was last year paired with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick.
The Italian dancer is no stranger to the Strictly format after previously starring as a pro on the Belgian, Italian and Irish versions of the show.
Born in Catania, Italy, Simone has been a professional dancer since childhood, becoming the Vice Italian Latin Champion at the age of 16.
He has also performed in the Broadway touring production of Burn the Floor and was also announced as part of the cast of Somnium: A Dancer's Dream with Strictly Come Dancing stars, Katya Jones and Neil Jones, in 2019.
Simone joined the Strictly global franchise in 2021, winning the Belgian version of the show with artistic gymnast Nine Derwael.
As a professional on the Irish version of the dance competition, he was partnered with RuPaul's Drag Race winner, Blu Hydrangea, as well as Kin actress, Yasmin Seky.
Earlier this year, MailOnline revealed that Simone Arena is reportedly set to join the professional lineup for Strictly Come Dancing, replacing Giovanni Pernice
A source told the Sun on Sunday: 'Simone blew the Strictly bosses away when he auditioned as a new professional on the show.
'He is no stranger to the Strictly format after previously starring as a pro on the Belgian, Italian and Irish versions of the series.
'Simone is well known among the pros, and his girlfriend Michelle [Tsiakkas] loved her time on the series last year.'
Last year, Giovanni, 34, departed the BBC show after his partner Amanda Abbington, 51, accused him of 'inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying' and claimed she was subjected to a 'toxic environment'.
But following a BBC investigation, the dancer was cleared of serious allegations regarding his behaviour, while six bullying complaints were upheld.
Earlier this year, the BBC revealed which professionals would be returning to battle it out for the Glitterball Trophy.
They included Amy Dowden, who was forced to pull out last year due to a foot injury, Johannes Radebe, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Vito Coppola and reigning champion Dianne, who won the 2024 show with blind comedian Chris.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Why TV dance star made last-minute withdrawal from live show
Janette Manrara, a former Strictly Come Dancing professional, was forced to pull out of a live performance of the musical Chicago on Wednesday, 23 July. Manrara is currently starring as Roxie Hart in the UK tour of Chicago, which is performing at Blackpool's Winter Gardens. She announced on Instagram that she was "unwell" and needed to rest to recover quickly, expressing deep apologies to the audience. Manrara reassured fans that she is "on the mend" and hopes to return to the stage soon, praising the rest of the cast for their performance. Since leaving her professional dancing role on Strictly in 2021, Manrara has co-presented the spin-off show It Takes Two.


The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Spacey told actor ‘don't worry about it' after alleged assault, documents claim
Kevin Spacey allegedly sexually assaulted a young actor at a party at The Savoy hotel and then told him 'Don't worry about it', court documents for the High Court legal claim suggest. Ruari Cannon is suing Mr Spacey as well as two organisations connected to the Old Vic Theatre in London, claiming he suffered psychiatric damage as a result of sexual and emotional abuse. The 33-year-old has waived his anonymity in the claim. In court documents seen by the PA news agency, Mr Cannon alleges that Mr Spacey, who was a 'powerful figure and a world-famous actor and celebrity' at the time, assaulted him in about June 2013, when he was 'a very vulnerable young man'. Oscar-winning actor Mr Spacey has previously denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour and wrongdoing, and details of his defence are not yet available. According to the documents, filed in June, Mr Spacey was working as artistic director at the Old Vic Theatre at the time of the alleged assaults on a production of a play by Tennessee Williams known as Sweet Bird Of Youth, and Mr Cannon was a member of the cast in this production. They claim that Mr Spacey 'took a particular interest' in Mr Cannon for 'reasons of sexual interest' and sent him a 'lavish' gift of a framed poster of the 1985 production of the play directed by Harold Pinter. After the press preview of the show on June 12 2013, Mr Cannon attended a party at The Savoy in London organised by The Old Vic Theatre Company (The Cut) and The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000. It is claimed that one of the alleged assaults took place at the event. Setting out the allegations, Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC, for Mr Cannon, said: 'Kevin Spacey pulled the claimant towards him, turned him around through 45 degrees and placed his left hand on the claimant's buttocks and lifted up the recess material of his suit.' It is alleged that Mr Spacey then pushed Mr Cannon's underwear 'as far up' into his bottom as possible, 'so as to cause pain and distress'. Ms Gumbel added: 'Mr Kevin Spacey pulled the claimant closer to him and whispered into the claimant's ear 'Don't worry about it'. 'Mr Spacey made more uncalled for and unwelcome advances to the claimant during the evening.' The following day, Mr Cannon reported the alleged assaults to his stage manager at the Old Vic Theatre, but no action was taken. According to the documents, it is accepted that Mr Cannon did not ask for any action to be taken, and was scared about how any further action might affect his career. Later that year, during the run of the show, Mr Cannon saw Mr Spacey at the Old Vic bar. Mr Spacey allegedly said to him, 'I hear you have a dirty secret', and then said: 'Open up.' Ms Gumbel said: 'Kevin Spacey then forced open the claimant's mouth with his fingers and thumbs and commented 'quite a bad boy' before the claimant could pull away. 'The claimant then left the bar. The forcing open of the claimant's mouth was another assault for which Kevin Spacey was responsible and for which the second and/or third defendants were vicariously liable. 'Further in 2017 when the Old Vic set up a confidential complaints email on October 31 2017 the claimant reported the above complaint again to the Old Vic.' She added that the alleged assaults were carried out by Mr Spacey in the course of his work for the organisations connected to the Old Vic, and they are 'vicariously liable' for the alleged assaults carried out in the context of a theatre production.


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
What are the Love Island Grafties?
THE Grafties are returning to Love Island tonight. Viewers of the ITV2 show will tune in for a night of both hilarity and potential drama in the famous Majorca villa. 5 5 Love Island will host its very own award ceremony in the villa for several standout moments, as voted for by the public. The red carpet is laid out for the contestants before clips are shown on a big-screen inside the villa like on movie night. This will bring up either old drama or hilarious moments that most of the group would not have previously seen. All the Grafties categories At this year's ceremony we have six categories that are highly contested. Eat, sleep crack on, repeat Award (Nominees: Conor, Dejon and Helena) Flirtiest performance (Nominees: Harry, Jamie and Harry & Angel) Unfinished business (Nominees: Emma & Harry, Conor & Megan, Shakira & Harry) Best double act (Nominees: Dejon & Helena, Helena & Meg, Shakira & Toni) Most emotional moment (Nominees: Cach, Shakira and Toni) The bestie no filter moment (Nominees: Dejon, Harry and Toni & Shakira) Who is nominated for a Graftie? A number of this year's islanders have been nominated in what is the most anticipated ceremony in reality TV. Harry Cooklsey is up for five awards across three categories. He has been nominated twice in the flirtiest performance and the unfinished business categories. He's also up for best no filter moment. Coming in second is Shakira Khan with four nominations, all in different categories. She did miss out on the Eat, sleep crack on, repeat category despite being coupled up with four of the boys during her tenure on the show. Helena Ford, Toni Laites and Dejon Noel-Williams all have three nominations each, whilst Conor Phillips has been nominated in two categories. Meanwhile, Meg Moore, Megan Forte-Clarke, Angel Swift, J amie Rhodes and Cach Mercer have not been overlooked. Love Island first look: Watch the moment screaming row kicks off after Love Island star is branded 'a snake' in villa challenge However, it looks as though Ty Isherwood, Yazmin Pettet and Blu Chegini have made it out scot-free, but will they be unaffected by the drama? What do Grafties winners get? All the couples sit at individual tables in the garden as the winners are announced to the villa. Each victor will get their own trophy and a chance to make a speech, either to laugh, cringe, or apologise. Despite what could be a great moment in the villa, the contestants are forced to confront potential feelings and deal with unresolved issues. We all remember when the drama exploded in the villa when Messy Mitch was forced to accept the award for 'Mad Moves'. Who decides the winner? Although the ceremony is decided by the public, unfortunately for Love Island fans, the vote has already closed. The show's official Instagram account announced the categories and the nominees on the 22nd July. Loyal viewers of the long-running dating show were able to have their say via an exclusive vote on its Instagram stories. 5 5 5