Latest news with #EllieLeach
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Strictly Come Dancing star Vito Coppola goes Instagram official with his new girlfriend Valentina Sica during romantic getaway together
Vito Coppola has confirmed his relationship with his new girlfriend Valentina Sica by 'hard launching' their relationship on Instagram on Tuesday. 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.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Strictly star Ellie Leach unveils new tattoo after ex-Coronation Street star got matching inking with Vito Coppola
STRICTLY Come Dancing champ Ellie Leach has revealed her brand new tattoo after her matching inking with her co-star. The actress, 24, was seen having the fresh "teenie" designs applied to her forearm and wrist as she headed to a parlour in Manchester. 6 6 It comes after the Coronation Street alum had a matching tatt with former Strictly co-star and professional partner Vito Coppola, 32, last year, as rumours of her romance with fellow show star Bobby Brazier, 21, swirled. Last year, Italian Vito showed off the design which featured a bee and aubergine logo on his upper arm, with the word "resilience" inked underneath. He explained: "It is going to be a bee with an aubergine body." Now ITV actress Ellie has added to her collection, with a square with a cross inside and a lightening bolt. The Faye Windass star donned a black top and denim shorts for her appointment, and kept her cool as she was tattooed in the chair. Ellie re-posted the images to her Instagram Stories with a cheeky laughing Emoji. a matching inking with her best mate back in 2022. VITO TATT Yet it was her close bond with Italian Vito which sparked her body art a year later. After their joint appointment, Ellie proudly also showed off her arm and said: "Guys, we're just done! We are so, so happy. "The best is Nicola Oprey. There she is, look at her. She's just the best. It's beautiful." The dancer and the soap star had referred to themselves as the "aubergine team" because Vito loves parmigiana, but decided to add a bee to the design because of its resilience. The couple previously said on ITV 's This Morning that they were planning on getting tattoos to mark their incredible journey on the BBC One dance competition. Speaking about his relationship with Ellie, Vito said: "We have a great relationship and we are going to have a tattoo - as a joke - before we got to the final we promised ourselves we would get one of an Aubergine." Ellie shared: "We said if we made it to the final we would get a tattoo, but it was just a joke, we didn't expect to get there." Vito added: "At the end we decided to do a B with the body of an Aubergine because a B is a Brazilian insect. But that is a symbol of our bond." It came after The Sun revealed that Ellie and Strictly co-star Bobby had been growing close. 6 6
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Oystercatcher birds outlive life expectancy by 30-plus years
Two oystercatchers that have outlived the species' average life expectancy by some 30 years have been discovered by bird surveyors. In February, bird recorders from the Wash Wader Research Group (WWRG) found an oystercatcher believed to be about 41 years and eight months old, at RSPB Snettisham in Norfolk. A few weeks later, they found an even older bird - aged 43 - on The Wash Estuary in Lincolnshire. It said both birds found were healthy and in a good condition. The average lifespan of an oystercatcher, recognisable by its black and white feathers, orange bill and red legs, is about 12 years, said the bird experts. Jacquie Clark, from WWRG, said: "It was amazing to find the first oystercatcher and confirm it was the UK's oldest, but we're even more stunned that it's all happened again within just a few weeks. "To find an even older bird on The Wash is astounding. It just shows how crucial this huge coastal wetland is for these birds."The conservation charity said bird ringing in Britain and Ireland was coordinated and licenced by Thetford-based British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), which was able to confirm the ages of both birds. Bird ringing has been used to monitor wild bird populations for more than a century. Dr Ellie Leach, head of the BTO ringing scheme, said: "We know that the average oystercatcher lives for 12 years, but birds in their 20s and 30s are regularly recorded, so these two birds are old but not completely unexpected."Jim Scott, RSPB estate operations manager at Titchwell Marsh and Snettisham Reserve, said The Wash was a site of "international importance" for oystercatchers, with about 26,000 nesting there. He said: "Oystercatchers rely on The Wash mudflats for food as they are jam-packed with invertebrates such as ragworms, snails and shellfish. "So, in some ways, it's not really a surprise that these two record-breaking oystercatchers choose to spend every winter here."As time goes on we may find the longevity record of oystercatchers keeps getting extended... it just shows how important it is that we protect these areas." Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, or BBC Suffolk.
