Strictly Come Dancing winners Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola have posted a cute reunion snap, with the two friends professing their "love" for each other.
The soap star and the pro dancer became friends after competing together last year, and shared a sweet Instagram picture where they're hugging on stage at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham.
Ellie explained that she and Vito have been working in the same building, performing different shows on different stages. Former Coronation Street star Ellie is playing Miss Scarlett in murder mystery Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter, while Vito is on tour with a number of Strictly pros.
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Their paths crossed when Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals brought Vito to Nottingham on May 23, in the middle of Ellie's tour with the cast of Cluedo 2 that same week.
Related: Strictly's Giovanni Pernice releases statement amid exit speculation
"Performing in the same building, at the same time, just on different stages! With each other wherever we go, love you," Ellie captioned the photo.
Her adorable declaration of friendship was promptly followed up by a reply from Vito.
"Love you baby," he wrote. "It has been such a lovely and special day… I am editing all the videos we have done for my next vlog."
Related: Strictly's Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola announce new show
Strictly lovers have been speculating about the nature of the relationship for so long that Ellie has had to set the record straight on multiple occasions, reiterating that they are just friends.
Responding to fans' concerns about why Vito wasn't featured in one of her Instagram posts back in March, Ellie posted a picture of him to her Stories.
"Love this man dearly. Men and women can be friends and can love each other AS FRIENDS... just saying x @vitocopolla you have the cutest face," she captioned it.
Strictly Come Dancing and its spin-off Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two are due to return to the BBC later this year.
Tickets for Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter and Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals live tour are available now.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
