Vito Coppola
Vito Coppola is an Italian dancer and choreographer. He is best known for appearing as a professional dancer on the 16th series of Italian dance competition Ballando con le Stelle in 2021 and ultimately winning the competition with Arisa. Since 2022, he has served as a professional on Strictly Come Dancing, the British version of the show, from the 20th series onwards, winning in 2023 with his celebrity dance partner Ellie Leach. In 2024, Coppola won the 19th series of Celebrity MasterChef.
Early life and competitive career
Coppola was born in Eboli, in Salerno, Italy on 27 September 1992. He has a younger brother, Jonathan. Coppola began dancing at the age of 6 and later competed in national championships. Coppola is a three-time World Championship finalist and a European Cup Winner. He won numerous competitions at provincial, regional and inter-regional level, and went on to win the first Italian championship at the age of 10 in the Juveniles category, as well as being selected by FIDS to represent Italy at the Team Match in Mannheim, Germany. Coppola also won the second Italian championship in the Combined 10 dances, passing with a merit into the higher category.Ballando con le Stelle
Prior to his appearances on competitive dance series, Coppola worked as a dancer on the Italian version of The Masked Singer. In 2021, Coppola joined the Rai 1 Italian dance television series Ballando con le Stelle as a professional for the 16th season. He was partnered with the singer and actress Arisa and the pair were crowned winners of the series. Coppola did not return for the following series, his departure alluding to him becoming a professional on the British version.| Series | Partner | Place | Average score |
| 16 | Arisa | 1st |
Series 16: with Arisa
''Strictly Come Dancing''
In July 2022, Coppola was announced to be joining the 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing as one of the professionals. Joining alongside Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley and Michelle Tsiakkas, he said upon his appointment as a professional on the show, " really excited to become part of this family, adding that wait to start this new adventure and to challenge . Strictly sto arrivando!". For his first series, he was paired with singer-songwriter and presenter Fleur East. Together they received the first perfect score of the series. Coppola reached the final with East and the couple finished as runners-up behind Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystał, alongside Helen Skelton and Gorka Márquez, and Molly Rainford and Carlos Gu. Coppola returned for the 21st series. He was paired with former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach, and the two of them eventually went on to win the series.In April 2024, Coppola headlined a charity dance show alongside his fellow Strictly Come Dancing professional Luba Mushtuk, with the profits going to Macmillan Cancer Support.
| Series | Partner | Place | Average score |
| 20 | Fleur East | 2nd | 35.5 |
| 21 | Ellie Leach | 1st | 35.8 |
| 22 | Sarah Hadland | 2nd | 35.3 |
| 23 | Ellie Goldstein | 10th | 25.5 |
Highest and lowest scoring per dance
| Dance | Partner | Highest | Partner | Lowest |
| American Smooth | Ellie Leach | 40 | Fleur East | 29 |
| Argentine Tango | Ellie Leach Fleur East Sarah Hadland | 38 | ||
| Cha-cha-cha | Sarah Hadland | 40 | Ellie Goldstein | 17 |
| Charleston | Ellie Leach Fleur East | 39 | Sarah Hadland | 38 |
| Couple's Choice | Fleur East | 40 | Ellie Goldstein | 33 |
| Dance-a-thon | Sarah Hadland | 4 | ||
| Foxtrot | Ellie Leach | 31 | Sarah Hadland | 27 |
| Jive | Sarah Hadland | 36 | Ellie Leach | 29 |
| Paso Doble | Ellie Leach | 39 | Sarah Hadland | 32 |
| Quickstep | Fleur East | 38 | Sarah Hadland | 30 |
| Rumba | Sarah Hadland | 36 | Ellie Leach Fleur East | 35 |
| Salsa | Ellie Leach | 38 | Ellie Goldstein | 31 |
| Samba | Fleur East | 40 | Ellie Goldstein | 27 |
| Showdance | Fleur East Sarah Hadland | 39 | Ellie Leach | 36 |
| Tango | Sarah Hadland | 36 | Ellie Goldstein | 27 |
| Viennese Waltz | Ellie Leach Sarah Hadland | 33 | Fleur East | 28 |
| Waltz | Fleur East | 35 | Ellie Goldstein | 23 |